SHOWING RANGE — Martin County West infielder Christian Bachenberg ranges into the outfield grass to catch a popup during first-round Section 2A baseball action Saturday at Fox Lake Sports Complex in Welcome. Maverick outfielder Kain Sanders backs up the play. (Photo by Kyle McAreavy)

WELCOME — Blake Jagodzinske pitched the Martin County West Mavericks to a 7-2 win over the Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Mustangs during the first round of the Section 2A baseball playoffs in Welcome on Saturday.

The postseason win marked the Mavericks’ first since the 2014 season.

The Mavericks move on to face New Ulm Cathedral in New Ulm at 5 p.m. Tuesday. The Greyhounds eliminated Nicollet, 7-0, during first-round sectional action Saturday.

The Mustangs scored a single run in the second and another in the third, but otherwise Jagodzinske allowed only three runners on one hit, one walk and one error.

The Maverick offense produced three runs in the first inning, one in the fourth and three in the sixth to support their starting pitcher.

“We were full of confidence coming in with him on the mound,” Maverick head coach Phillip Rotunda said in reference to Blake Jagodzinske. “He’s got it, he’s been dealing every single game he’s out there. … He was right at the max. He’s the type of guy, he wants the ball all the time. He’s the type of guy that is a lot of fun to coach.”

The Mustangs looked to pull ahead in the first when Nic Taylor sent a leadoff double to the wall in left-center field, but a failed sacrifice bunt and a lineout double play kept BLHS off the board.

Zach Anderson doubled to the base of the wall in left to start the bottom half of the inning, then scored on a Jaxson Rohman single to center. Rohman took second base on the throw to the plate, then advanced to third when the throw sailed to the backstop.

After Blake Jagodzinske walked and stole second, Wyatt Williamson grounded out for an RBI before Jacob Fiala lined a hard single down the right field line to put the Mavericks up 3-0.

The Mustangs put together two hits and a hit batter to score a run in the second, then an error and a Cale Lathens triple to the wall in right-center field for a run in the third to bring the score to 3-2 MCW.

Then Blake Jagodzinske started to shut down the Mustangs.

Jagodzinske worked through the fourth, facing four batters with one reaching on an error, before the Mavericks added a run in the bottom half with another Anderson double and Rohman RBI single.

Blake Jagodzinske then forced a popout, strikeout and groundout for a clean fifth inning before getting two groundouts, walking one and forcing a flyout for a scoreless top of the sixth.

The Mavericks were not satisfied with a two-run lead, adding on in the bottom of the sixth.

Blake Jagodzinske led off with a single to right before advancing to second on a Williamson single to left-center. Williamson and Jagodzinske reached second and third, respectively, on a wild pitch, then Jagodzinske attempted to steal home and caused a balk in the confusion.

Williamson scored when Lucas Jagodzinske hit a single to right just past the Mustangs’ backtracking second baseman.

Jesse Potts reached first on a fielder’s choice, then pinch runner Cody Potts stole second and scored on a Christian Bachenberg single through the middle.

Blake Jagodzinske then struck out the first two batters in the seventh and forced a popout to first to complete his winning pitching performance.

“I thought we had a huge performance,” Rotunda said. “We gave up that leadoff double, but didn’t give up a run, then came back and got three right away. That took a lot of the nerves off. We played loose and had a good game from the start. … Guys were ready to play and it was fun.”

Anderson hit two doubles and reached base four times for the Mavericks and scored two runs, while Rohman had two singles and two RBIs. Blake Jagodzinske had two hits, including a double, and one run scored, while Williamson had a single and a run scored.

Blake Jagodzinske gave up four hits, one walk and one hit batter in his seven innings, while setting down five Mustangs on strikes.

Brandon McColley started on the mound for BLHS and pitched 4 2/3 innings, while allowing four runs on seven hits, seven walks and one hit batter. McColley added two strikeouts to his performance. Taylor pitched the final 1 1/3 for the Mustangs, allowing three runs on four hits and no walks, while striking out two.

BLHS 011 000 0 — 2 4 1

MCW 300 103 x — 7 11 2

Blake Jagodzinske (WP) and Lucas Jagodzinske. Brandon McColley (LP), Nic Taylor (5) and Eli Kirtz.

LOB–MCW 12, BLHS 6. 2B–Zach Anderson (MCW) 2, Blake Jagodzinske (MCW), Nic Taylor (BLHS). 3B–Cale Lathens (BLHS).

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Sleepy Eye Public 8, Truman/Martin Luther/GHEC 1 — Jackson Huiras fired a one-hitter over six innings to help guide the Indians to a seven-run sectional victory over the Jaguars on Saturday in Sleepy Eye.

Huiras recorded a game-best eight strikeouts and issued only one walk to earn the victory.

Sleepy Eye Public (10-9) travels to Springfield for a 5 p.m. Section 2A second-round playoff game against the host Tigers on Tuesday.

The Jaguars ended their season with a 6-13 record.

Mason Sellner went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and scored three runs to top Sleepy Eye’s offense, while Erizen Traconis singled home a run and scored once.

No individual or team statistics were provided by the Jaguars.