Yogi Berra once said, “It ain't over 'til it’s over”. Well, that couldn’t have been any truer this past weekend when the Randall Cubs traveled to Varsity Field in Upsala to take on the Blue Jays. The Cubs and Jays split a pair of regular season games with each team winning at home. And being at home may have turned out to be the difference.

Upsala started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. A lead-off double was followed an out later by Matt Swanson and the Jays jumped out to a 2-0 lead. The lead was short lived, however, as the Blue Jays defense let them down in this one allowing a pair of unearned runs to score in the top of the third inning and things were all tied up. The score would stay that way through the ninth inning as both starters, Matt Swanson for Upsala and Kyle Petershick, would match zeros. Swanson gave way to John Fuchs in the 10^th while Petershick kept going for the Cubs. In the top of the 13^th, the Cubs lead-off man would gain second on a pair of error with no one out. Fuchs would get the next 2 batters and after a wild pitch, Cubs had a runner on 3^rd with 2 outs. Unfortunately, another wild pitch would allow the go ahead run to score. Fuchs was injured on the play and BJ Lange would come in to get the final out of the inning setting up the bottom of the 13^th. After getting the first 2 batters, Ben Burggraff would get hit by a pitch and B J Lange would coax a full count walk to put runners on first and second. Brandon Welinski would then stroke the first pitch he saw into right field scoring Burggraff on a close play to tie things up 3-3. Brady Burggraff would then lift the next pitch to deep left, but Jason Petershick would rob the Jays of the game winning home run and the game would move to the 14^th. …and then to the 15^th. In the bottom of the 15^th Justin Lampert would lead off with a single and advance to second on a sacrifice by Adam Gerads. Then stepped in Ben Burggraff who had tied the game in the 13^th. Burggraff would hit a soft line drive to center and Lampert would beat the throw home and the Upsala Blue Jays were 4-3 winners. BJ Lange grabbed the win getting all seven guys he faced. The win advanced the Blue Jays to the Region 8C Tournament and also a championship match-up with Sobieski on Sunday.

Sunday, Upsala would fall behind early after a first inning home run off of starter, Brandon Welinski, would give the Skis an early 2-0 lead. The Blue Jays would tie it with single runs in the 3^rd and 4^th innings. The Skis would then take the lead for good with pair of runs in the 6^th. Upsala would cut the lead in half on a 7^th inning home run by Joe Bartkowicz. However, that was all the scoring and the Jays would leave the game as the 2nd seed from West after the 4-3 loss.

Check out the complete box scores for these and all games by clicking the final score next to the game. Check out the Victory League web site for all the league results from the past week, standings, and also for the upcoming league schedule including games that will be broadcast via radio and internet.

The Region 8C Tournament starts this week-end in Pierz. Upsala will take on Fort Ripley @ 5:00 PM Saturday afternoon at Legion Park. Win or lose, the Jays will play Sunday @ either 11:00 AM or 5:00 PM. See the bracket at www.victoryleague.org. Come out and support the home town team. The team is grateful for the support so far and looks forward to advancing with their fans.

ALERT- The Upsala Blue Jays baseball team is now on Twitter. Check out @upsalabluejays for all things from game updates to other team information.

-SPB