For most of the teams in the First Nite and Gopher Leagues, the 2021 amateur baseball playoffs will begin tonight (Wednesday) with a best-of-three cross-division playoff series.
With seven playoff-eligible teams in each league, the top-seeded team in each league receives a bye from the cross-division round and advances directly into the Region 13C playoffs. Windom won the First Nite League regular-season title, while Luverne won the Gopher League title.
The remaining six teams in each league will play a cross-division series, with pairing determined by league standings. Each team will host at least one game, with the higher-seeded team hosting a deciding third game, if necessary.
The winners of each series will advance to the eight-team Region 13C Tournament, which begins July 28. The winning teams from the opening-round series will be seeded for the regional tournament on Monday.
First-round matchups are:
• #7G Tracy vs. #2FN Jackson: Game 1, tonight (Wednesday) at Jackson, 7:30 p.m.; Game 2, Saturday at Tracy, 2 p.m.; Game 3 (if necessary), Sunday at Jackson, 2 p.m.
• #6G Ruthton vs. #3FN Lakefield: Game 1, tonight (Wednesday) at Lakefield, 7:30 p.m.; Game 2, Friday at Ruthton, 7:30 p.m.; Game 3 (if necessary), Sunday at Lakefield, 2 p.m.
• #5G Adrian vs. #4FN Fox Lake: Game 1, tonight (Wednesday) at Truman, 7:30 p.m.; Game 2, Friday at Adrian, 7:30 p.m.; Game 3 (if necessary), Sunday at Truman, 2 p.m.
• #4G Pipestone vs. #5FN Heron Lake: Game 1, tonight (Wednesday) at Pipestone, 7:30 p.m.; Game 2, Saturday at Heron Lake, 2 p.m.; Game 3 (if necessary), Sunday at Pipestone, 2 p.m.
• #3G Hadley vs. #6FN Mt. Lake: Game 1, tonight (Wednesday) at St. James, 7:30 p.m.; Game 2, Saturday at Hadley, 2 p.m.; Game 3 (if necessary), Sunday at Hadley, 2 p.m.
• #2G Milroy Irish vs. #7FN Worthington: Game 1, tonight (Wednesday) at Irish Yard, 7:30 p.m.; Game 2, Friday at Worthington, 7:30 p.m.; Game 3 (if necessary), Sunday at Irish Yard, 2 p.m.
