WILLMAR -- Defending Division II state champion Jordan brings another impressive lineup to the state tournament, which begins Saturday.
Jordan (20-2) has four regulars and nine players in all back from its championship team.
"We really haven't hit as well this year," said Jordan coach Ron Beckman. "We've been relying more on our pitching and defense."
LaCrescent (30-1) is also back from last season's tournament and is riding a 26-game winning streak.
NOTES: The last area team to win a Division II state title was Paynesville in 2003. Sacred Heart won in 2000 ... This is the fourth time Willmar has hosted the tournament in the last 10 years ... Jordan beat Pipestone 8-0 in last year's championship.
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Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (29-13)
Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton is hitting .332 as a team with Matt Gable's .408 average leading the way. Matt Green is hitting .398, Michael Nelson .386, Jake Jenson .378, Victor Sokolofsky .331 and Brett Kuehl .304.
Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop (17-6)
Ten players for GFW are hitting between .311 and .408.
Topping the list is Justin Schwecke (.408). He is followed by Blake Clobes (.398), Andrew Melius (.395), Ty Harkness (.366), Ryan Penning (.351), Cody Loverude (.350), Shane Ahlbrecht (.314), Noel Mauer (.313), Samuel Van Hon (.311) and Kevin Erdal (.300).
Top pitchers for GFW are Schwecke (3-1, 2.89 ERA), Loverude (4-1, 3.82) and Erdal (5-2, 5.75).
Jordan (20-2)
Jordan has three starters who have yet to lose this season. Billy Aamodt is 7-0 with a 2.04 ERA, Joe Lucas is 5-0 with a 1.14 ERA and T.J. Oakes is 4-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 27 innings.
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Jordan opens against Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
Beckman's squad is led in hitting by Jeremy Heitkamp with a .449 average. Steven Beckman, the coach's son, is hitting .411, Mark Trapp .375, Lucas .314, Jordan Kival .306 and Timothy Gerhardt .300.
LaCrescent (30-1)
LaCrescent has scored 229 runs this season, while allowing only 74. The team's batting average is .354.
The top hitter this season for LaCrescent is Dan Schulte at .518. Eriah Hayes is hitting .452, Chad Walleser .419, Mason Duckett .380, Matt Lorenz .379, Levon Mueller .359 and Robby Dyson .302.
Dyson has posted an 8-0 record on the mound this season and a 0.35 ERA. Welleser is 6-1 with a 1.36 ERA and Lorenz 4-0, 3.50.
Nashwauk-Keewatin (12-9)
Nashwauk-Keewatin, in northern Minnesota, makes the furthest trip of the eight teams.
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Joe Matire leads the squad with a .410 batting average. Ryan Cannata is hitting .400, Jake Sletten .390, Jeff Clusiau .380 and Reid Velo .370.
Sletten and Chris Bonderson are the top pitchers.
Royalton (20-5)
Royalton has seven players hitting .300 or higher, led by Andrew Gottwalt at .475. Tyler Jendro is hitting .450, Emil Trutwin .420, Adam Snyder .380, Ryan Snyder .340, Shawn Lannes .333 and Mark Gottwalt .300.
Matt Gottwalt is 7-1 on the mound this season with a 3.50 ERA. Trutwin is 6-2 with a 3.50 ERA. Jendro is the main reliever.
Windom (17-7)
Eight of the regulars in the Windom lineup boast .300-plus batting averages. Kody Johnson, the team's catcher, is hititng a robust .520 this season. He is followed by Kirby Johnson at .400. Brent Fredin, Brett Mattson, Mike Nesseth, Matt Anderson and Tyler Knutson are all hitting over .300
On the hill, Kirby Johnson is 6-1 with a 0.90 ERA, Nesseth is 5-0 and Trenton Anderson 3-0.
