LUVERNE - Entering Monday’s league doubleheader against Luverne, Worthington controlled its own destiny for the top seed in the district playoffs.
After two of three games this week that are crucial in doing so, Post 3958 is still in the driver’s seat.
“I told the guys before the game that our goal was to win these first three this week and get the No. 1-seed,” Worthington coach TD Hostikka said. “Tonight we accomplished what we needed to accomplish.”
Worthington earned a pair of one-run victories against a fiesty Luverne squad, 6-5 and 9-8.
In the opener, Post 3958 scored six runs in the first three innings. A four-run sixth got the home team to within one, but Easton Sauerbrei slammed the door for the save.
Jed Jewett earned the win on the mound, going five innings and allowing just one earned run on three hits and striking out three. Sauerbrei fanned two in two innings.
Tyler Linder went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a run at the plate. Shawn Hurley was 1-for-2 with two runs and two stolen bases while Manny Dominguez went 1-for-1 with a run and two ribbies.
Jaxon Nelson was 2-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI for Luverne.
In the nightcap, Worthington was up 9-1 in the bottom of the fifth with a chance to end it early. It had runners on second and third with one out and its cleanup hitter at the plate. Luverne managed to wriggle free to keep hope alive.
It came back with five runs in the sixth and two in the seventh to put the pressure on.
“We had a chance to end it with one swing but they didn’t let that happen,” Hostikka said of his opponents. “Luverne is a team that does not quit. They flat-out do not quit.”
Hurley got the win for Post 3958. He pitched the first 5 2/3 innings and allowed five earned on eight hits, walked three and fanned two. Sauerbrei earned his second save of the day by recording the final four outs.
Alex Loosbrock was stuck with the loss for Luverne.
Hurley went 3-for-4 with three runs and a stolen base for Worthington. Tucker Sorenson finished 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a stolen base. Linder and Jewett but went 2-for-3 while Eli Gaul had a hit, a run and two ribbies.
Declan Beers went 2-for-5 with a stolen base for Luverne.
Worthington (22-5 overall, 6-1 league) has a chance to wrap up the top seed on Thursday when it hosts a 5:30 p.m. doubleheader with Pipestone. Game one will be the league contest. Luverne hosts Westbrook on Thursday.
R H E
Wor 321 000 0 - 6 8 0
Luv 000 104 0 - 5 5 3
R H E
Luv 000 105 2 - 8 6 2
Wor 021 330 0 - 9 12 2
