Jackson County teams see paths opening for baseball playoffs

By Michael Brooks

Editor/General Manager

     With a huge 3-2 victory over the Columbus Cardinals, the Edna Cowboys baseball team may have saved their season as they opened a path to the playoffs.

     Columbus was undefeated in district play and ranked 11th in state, but none of that mattered as Edna brought the pitching, timely hitting and great baserunning to grab the victory.
     A loss would have left the Cowboys relying on a lot of things to break right for them to even have a chance to tie for a playoff spot. But now, barring another huge upset victory, Edna has a great shot to pull into a tie with Tidehaven. The Cowboys finish the season against Palacios (3-9) and Yoakum (4-8). Tidehaven finishes against Yoakum, and then Edna will have to rely on Industrial (9-3) to take care of Tidehaven in the district finale.

     Industrial held on to their second-place tie with Hallettsville behind their 10-1 win over Rice (1-11). After the Edna win, both Industrial and Hallettsville have a chance to catch Columbus (11-1) but with Columbus finishing against Rice and Hallettsville, hoping for two more losses will be tough.

     The Cobras have a chance to take sole possession of second place when they face off against Hallettsville on Friday. Industrial will finish the season against Tidehaven. Hallettsville will finish the season against Columbus.

    The Ganado Indians baseball team (9-2) found out some good news in their quest for their first outright district title since 1996: Weimar (6-5) defeated Flatonia (7-3). Combined with the Indians’ 11-1 win over Bloomington on Monday, Flatonia will now have to rely on lots of help to be able to tie the Indians for the district crown. In between the two teams is defending state champion Shiner (9-2). 

     Ganado finishes the season against Schulenburg (6-5) and then Louise (2-8). Flatonia faces Louise and then Shiner. Shiner has the toughest schedule of the three as they face Weimar before Flatonia. If the Indians win out and Flatonia defeats Shiner, the Indians will be district champs. If Ganado and Shiner end in a tie, there would be a tie-breaker as they both defeated each other once in district play.
     All three teams have already clinched a playoff position.