File photo by Travis Rosenau Courtland Cubs’ Carter Lang slides into third during a Region 2C Amateur Baseball Tournament state-qualifying game against Stark on Aug. 3 at Johnson Park in New Ulm.

NEW ULM — The Courtland Cubs are preparing for their second straight Class C Minnesota State Amateur Baseball Tournament when they open up against the Richmond Royals at 6:30 p.m. this Saturday in Green Isle.

The Cubs, under manager Chase Meyer, enter the fall classic with a 20-8 mark and are the No. 2 team from Region 2C.

Meyer said the Cubs have had their ups and downs this season.

“But overall our guys have put out a good team each and every day,” he said. “Obviously there are some bumps in the road along the way, but overall I feel like we have battled through quite a bit and have come together and play together as a team.”

The Cubs have a balance of experienced players, but those players are still relatively young.

In fact, Courtland may be the youngest team in the Class C tournament field.

“Between myself, Tad Voges and Dave Hatle, we are the oldest guys on the team who are on the playoff roster,” Meyer said. “But everybody else who will be on the field for our first state tournament game on Saturday will be not over the age of 22.”

Offensively the Cubs are led by young players like Jackson Bode, who is hitting .429, along with Mason Cox (.403), Nolan Drill (.350), Teddy Giefer (.313) and Carter Lang (.329).

As a team, the Cubs carry a .308 average into Saturday’s first-round game.

One of the big additions this season was outfielder Mason Cox, who played for Stark last season.

“That was kind of a surprise,” Meyer said. “I know that a lot of the players on our team grew up playing River Rats, VFW and Junior Legion and Legion [in New Ulm]. I think it was more of a case where Marson wanted to come and play with his friends. He is a very good athlete.”

Courtland’s mound staff is led by Giefer, Bode, Jaden Drill and Meyer.

Bode carries a 3.00 ERA, with Giefer at 0.84, Meyer at 3.00 and Jaden Drill at 2.70.

“Teddy has thrown 53 innings and has 65strikeouts and Jackson has thrown 42 innings and has struck out 52,” Meyer said.

As far as what the Cubs overall strength is, Meyer thinks that it is just being well-rounded overall.

“We are talented in the field and a good amount of pop at the plate,” Meyer said. “It is hard to say what this team really specializes in — we feel that we have created a well-rounded team here.”

The Cubs face Richmond, the fourth team from Region 15 and a member of the Stearns County-South League.

“There are a couple of guys on that Richmond team that I used to play with at St. Cloud Tech that now play for Richmond,” Meyer said. “I know that they have a DIII, JUCO All-American in first baseman Sam Holthaus who is good. I know that they are going to be a good team.”

Meyer plans to send a southpaw to the mound Saturday in Giefer.

“We will be ready to go and the experience from last year will help us,” Meyer said. “And we have a good of a shot as any team in the tournament.”

Following the Region 2C tournament this past weekend, the Cubs drafted pitchers Jackson Huiras (Leavenworth), Adam Sellner (Stark) and Tony Geiger (Searles).