No. 2-seed Bloomington Jefferson went through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in its matchup with No. 1-seed Lakeville North, but the Jaguars leaned on a proficient pitching performance from starter Jake Irvin in their 8-5 win over the Panthers in the Class 3A, Section 3 winner’s bracket final on Friday night at Alimagnet Park in Burnsville. 

Irvin, a junior, dominated Lakeville’s senior heavy lineup, striking out nine and walking one.

“My slider was really going,” Irvin said. “Didn’t have it going early, but later in the game, especially when they were hitting my fastball, it was a great pitch.” 

With the No. 6-ranked Jaguars up 4-0 and the momentum in Jefferson’s direction, No.1-ranked Lakeville scored three runs in the third inning. Irvin knew his slider wasn’t working, but with the game so close, there was no space for another mistake. Irving said his coach always told him to have a positive mentality. 

“Coach (Jim) Gess always told me to keep my composure, just stay even headed, and you should be good,” Irving said. 

Gess has some experience giving kids positive reinforcement, given he’s been coaching the Jefferson baseball team since 2001. With the Jaguars down one run in the fourth inning, Gess said his team knew what to do. 

“We talk about it all year; don’t get too high, don’t get too low,” Gess said. “Stop the bleeding the best that you can, and I think they did a really good job of that and keeping the game close. It could’ve got ugly, but I think we kept our composure.” 

This wasn’t the first game in these section playoffs Lakeville North has battled back. In Wednesday’s semifinal matchup with Burnsville, the Panthers were down 3-1 heading into the sixth inning. In the top of the sixth Lakeville North scorched the Blaze for six runs and won 7-3. 

Jaguars second baseman Bryan Mariska, who went 3-for-3 and drove in two runs said the Jefferson wasn't going to stop fighting. 

“We knew it was a battle coming in,” Mariska said. “They came from behind against Burnsville the game before to get here. We knew. The coaches knew. They kept us motivated; we knew it was going to be a battle.” 

Although it was a great win for Jefferson, the Jaguars would probably not like to be put in tight situations late in the game, which seems to be their expertise. In the regular season and section playoffs, 12 Jefferson games have been decided by two runs or fewer, with eight of those games being decided by one run. 

Gess said those experienced have helped the Jaguars pull out victories, not only against the Panthers, but all season.   

“We’re playing well in the right situations,” Gess said. “That’s the key. We’re making the big plays in key situations. We’ve done that all year. We’ve had the close games, so I think that helped us tonight.”

Bloomington Jefferson pitcher Jake Irvin struck out nine in a complete-game victory as the  No. 2 seeded Jaguars beat No. 1 seed Lakeville North 8-5 on Friday night in the Class 3A, Section 3 winner's bracket final at Alimagnet Park in Burnsville.

No. 6-ranked Bloomington Jefferson (17-5) broke a 5-5 tie in the top of the sixth inning as Bryan Mariska, Kyle Lynch and Josh Hanson each drove in runs.

Ted Kalina tripled to drive in two of Jefferson's four runs in the first inning. Catcher Josh Henson and first baseman Noah Luedtke also drove in runs in the first for .

No. 1-ranked Lakeville North (19-3) didn't record its first hit in the third, when it scored its first three runs. Panthers shortstop Angelo Altavilla doubled in two runs, and center fielder A.J. Sayer singled in the other run.

The Jaguars took a 5-4 lead in the top of the fourth on Brian Mariska's RBI single.

Lakeville North tied the score at 5 in the fourth on a two-run triple from Sayer.

Irvin walked one and gave up eight hits.

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