The Three Rivers Sandblasters have qualified for the Zone 3 American Legion playoffs, taking a step toward reaching the state tournament for the second straight summer.

Saturday’s 12-2 win over visiting Withnell Dodge secured the spot in the postseason. Now the Sandblasters will try to improve their seed when they visit the Springfield Titans in the league finale tonight.

A win over Springfield and two losses by Withnell Dodge would give Three Rivers a home playoff game against the Dodgers on Thursday. Any other combination of events will put Three Rivers on the road Thursday.

But securing the playoff spot was a big step after Three Rivers started the league season 0-3 before winning eight of its next 11 games.

“We’ve put ourselves in a good position going into Monday,” said Three Rivers coach Alex Morales after Saturday’s win.

Three Rivers pulled away late with nine runs in the final two innings.

Bryce Weidman pitched seven solid innings, allowing just two runs in the fifth.

He left with a 3-2 lead, but Drew Rainwater hit a three-run home run in the seventh to give Three Rivers a cushion. The Sandblasters added six more runs in the eighth to end the game early under the 10-run rule.

Three Rivers spread out 10 hits among eight different players.

Scott Buche went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI and also pitched the eighth inning in relief of Weidman.

Tyler Mais was 2-for-4 with three runs scored.

Weidman allowed just five hits, and also walked five batters. He struck out 10.

Three Rivers started the league season 0-3 before winning three straight. The Sandblasters were 4-5 and in danger of not reaching the league playoffs before their final surge up the standings.

At 8-6, Three Rivers trails just Richey’s Market of Corvallis (10-4) and Withnell Dodge (8-5). Salem Post 9 and Springfield both are 6-8, meaning they can’t catch Three Rivers and instead are battling for fourth place and the final spot in the Zone 3 playoffs.

Three Rivers, meanwhile, will finish either second or third. Withnell finishes with games tonight at Corvallis and Tuesday against Albany and holds the tiebreaker in the case of a tie with the Sandblasters.

The second-place team hosts the third-place team in the first round of the league playoffs on Thursday.

Three Rivers will tune up for the playoffs with a home game against the Eugene Challengers on Tuesday and also faces the Dusters in a charity game at Florence on Wednesday.

Three Rivers 12, Withnell Dodge 2

Withnell    000    020    00    —    2    7    4

Three Rivers    102    000    36    —    12    10    1

Coyne, Stott (7), Kelsh (8) and Miles; Bryce Weidman, Scott Buche (8) and Ethan Ottemiller. 2B—WD: Jackson. HR—TR: Drew Rainwater.