A host of Panther track athletes will compete in the Section 3A track meet at Slayton Thursday. The tracksters qualified for regional competition last week as Tracy/Milroy/Balaton dominated its sub-section meet at Redwood Falls.

The Panthers won the Sub-Section 11 girls' meet, and were runners-up in the boys' competition.

Girls' sub-section results

T/M/B, 211.5; Canby/Minneota, 105; RTR/LB, 101.5; RCW, 96; RV, 94; Lincoln HI, 64; Lakeview, 9.

Boys' sub-section results

Redwood Valley, 198; T/M/B, 132; R-T-R/LB, 118; Canby/Minneota, 117; Lakeview, 57; RCW,50; Lincoln HI, 19.

Softball quest continues

Tracy/Milroy/Balaton is still alive in the Section 3A fast-pitch softball tournament.

The Panthers, who have one win and one loss in the double-elimination tourney, face West Central at 3 p.m. Wednesday (June 2) in Redwood Falls.

The Panthers defeated Luverne 1-0 on Monday, but lost to Jackson County Central 7-1 in the second game on a very windy day. Bad weather forced the postponement of games on Saturday and Tuesday.

"I told the girls before the game that Luverne was a credible opponent, and they were," said Panther Coach Dave Sogge. "They played us tough, as tough as anybody has all year."

The Panthers, who entered the tourney with an 18-2 record, were held to only one hit. Their lone hit led to the winning run in the eighth inning. Alissa Lightfoot led off the eighth inning for TMB with a single, went to second on a passed ball and scored on an error on the Luverne first baseman.

"Alissa Lightfoot scored the winning run all on her own. She saw the opportunity and took advantage," observed Sogge. "It was a heads-up play."

In the meantime, the Panthers played good, tight defense, committing only one error and held the Cardinals scoreless. Megan Anderson pitched the entire game for TMB and held Luverne to only 3 hits.

"Megan turned in one gutsy performance today," said Sogge. "She has a shoulder problem that is very painful. She can pitch as long as she can endure the pain."

Anderson also pitched five innings in the second game loss to JCC.

"Jackson County Central was a solid team," said Panther Coach Dave Sogge. "They had god pitching, they played well defensively and they hit the heck out of the ball. They're good!"

Baseball extremes have same result: TMB losses

The Panther baseball team was eliminated from post-season play Monday in Jackson.

Tracy/Milroy/Balaton lost to No. 1 seed Jackson County Central 4-3 in the first game and lost to Redwood Valley 15-1 in the second. The action left the Panthers with a 7-14 season record.

The Panthers out-hit their opponents 7-5.

"We just couldn't come up with the big hit at the right time," said Panther Coach Bill Tauer. "We had our chances."

He felt the Panthers played one of their best games of the season against JCC.

"We gave it every thing we had," said Tauer. "The kids played very well."

Donald Strand went 2 for 3 with a triple, stole three bases and had an RBI. Derek Radke and Pat Spielmann ad the other RBIs.

Matt Bauer pitched the entire game took the loss for TMB.

Nothing went right for TMB in their next game.

"We came out flat against Redwood Valley," said Tauer. "And they came out all fired up and hit the ball really well."

The Cardinals banged out 13 hits, eight of them for extra bases. Derek Radke, Derek Daniels and Brett Jackson pitched for TMB.