Behind Elfrink, Jackson avoids early elimination

A sloppy, muddy mound did little to slow down Joe Elfrink.

Elfrink overcame a steady, virtual game-long drizzle to pitch the Jackson Post 158 Senior American Legion baseball team to a Zone 4 tournament losers bracket win Friday.

Elfrink went all eight innings as Jackson routed Dunklin County Post 303 14-4 in a run-rule affair that ended in the bottom of the eighth.

The performance allowed host Jackson to stay alive in the five-team, double-elimination event at Whitey Herzog Stadium.

"Joe has been a big pitcher for us his whole career," said Jackson coach Mark Lewis, whose squad notched its milestone 40th victory of the season. "It was a big game, an elimination game. We needed it."

Elfrink, who graduated from Leopold High School this year, said it was basically mind over matter regarding the sloppy mound.

"It's one of those things you have to battle through," Elfrink said. "You can't worry about the weather. You can't worry about things you can't control."

Elfrink allowed five hits and two earned runs. He struck out 11 and walked five.

"I was trying to work ahead with the fastball," he said.

An error helped Dunklin County score three second-inning runs, just one earned.

Post 303 got its final run in the third inning on a homer by Logan Carter.

Elfrink dominated the rest of the way, allowing just one hit over the final five frames.

"It was a good outing. He gave us a chance for the rest of the tournament," Lewis said.

Elfrink said he was excited to get the call the day after Jackson fell into the losers bracket with a tough 5-4 loss to Festus.

"You always want the ball," he said.

Elfrink benefited from an 18-hit attack as Jackson led all the way after scoring four runs in the bottom of the first. Three of the runs were unearned.

"Our hitters came to play today," Elfrink said.

Jackson led just 5-4 before breaking things wide open with a seven-run fourth inning that featured eight hits. Post 158 ended the contest in the bottom of the eighth with two runs.

"Our offense was big," Lewis said. "It's always important to get on top."

Trent Wills, Laban Petzoldt, Chase Simmons and Ryan O'Rear all had three hits for Post 158. Kyle James added two hits.

Wills doubled twice. Simmons, Cody Harris and Steven Porzelt all drove in two runs.

Friday's matchup marked the eighth meeting of the summer between the District 14 rivals.

Jackson beat Dunklin County (25-14) seven times, including twice in the zone tournament. Post 158 opened the tourney with Thursday's 4-3, 13-inning win over Post 303, then ended the perennial District 14 power's season Friday.

"We had some really good games with them this year," Lewis said. "It's very unusual to play the same team eight times. ... they've always got a great team.

Jacob Trammel suffered the loss, allowing 12 runs, eight earned, and 12 hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Dunklin County eliminated Creve Coeur 9-6 in the first of Friday's three games before falling to Jackson in Friday's nightcap.