Central rallies from 10-0 deficit but Indians manage to reach final

Jackson roared out to a huge lead for the second straight day of the SEMO Conference Tournament, but this time the Indians had to sweat it out as they squandered a 10-0 lead Saturday before scoring late to win 11-10 at rival Central.

The third-seeded Indians (13-7) had a nine-run first inning against Notre Dame on Friday, and in the semifinals Saturday the Indians scored nine in the second to build a 10-0 lead over No. 2 Central. Jackson was held scoreless for four innings following its offensive explosion, but a two-out run in the top of the seventh broke a 10-10 tie and sent the Indians into Monday's conference finals.

Sikeston won the other semifinals 6-5 over Dexter on a walk-off two-out, two-run single. Jackson will face the top-seeded Bulldogs on Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Capaha Field.

"We've been doing good [offensively], and we kept it going today," Jackson senior Levi Petzoldt said. "For a bit there the momentum changed, but we got it back and put the game away."

Central (11-7) capped its 10-run comeback with two runs in the sixth to tie the score 10-10. Logan Lawson, who threw three innings as Friday's starter, came in with one on and none out in the sixth and gave up back-to-back RBI singles from Blake Slattery and Alex Shell. Lawson stranded the runners by getting Brad LaBruyere to ground out and Garrett Stevens to strike out.

Jackson's Matt Lang attempted a bunt in front of Central catcher Alex Shell during their game Saturday at Central. (Kit Doyle)

Tyler Propst, who entered in the second inning, walked Luke Crader to lead off the seventh. Crader stole second and reached third on a wild pitch with no outs. Propst struck out Rex Meyr and got Lawson to ground out, but Andy Winkleblack drove in the game-winner on a chopper to third base which got by LaBruyere. The error at third was the exclamation point on a poorly played game by Central's infield.

"We made error after error, too many errors, and you can't give a team free runs and free base runners because eventually they'll get a hit," Central coach Steve Williams said. "The first couple of innings we didn't play well defensively, and we got ourselves in too big a hole."

The Tigers may have been able to get out of the second inning without giving up a run, but Slattery fumbled a ball at shortstop that could have led to a double play. Central had two errors in the inning and a poor throw from second to first on a double play attempt cost it two more runs.

Meyr and Winkleblack each had two RBIs in the second, as Jackson sent 14 batters to the plate. Central starter Chris Brotherton was pulled with a 2-0 count and one out with Lawson at the plate, the sixth batter to come up in the inning. Justin Myers came in and walked Lawson then faced seven more batters before being pulled after getting just one out.

Propst retired the only batter he faced to end the inning. Jackson loaded the bases on Propst in the third, but the senior right-hander settled down and allowed four hits and one run in 5 1/3 innings.

Jackson's (NAME, #7) attemps a bunt as Central catcher (NAME) stands ready during their game at Central on Saturday, April 28, 2007. (Kit Doyle)

"Tyler came in and did a great job," Williams said. "He gave us a chance, and in any game, that's all you can ask for."

Central used its ace, LaBruyere, in its quarterfinal win over Kelly on Friday. Brotherton struggled with command from the start Saturday, walking two in Jackson's one-run first.

"Chris had pitched really well the last couple of times out, and we were looking forward to him pitching," Williams said.

Caleb Guilliams got the start for the Indians and mowed down the Tigers in order in the bottom of the first. Guilliams did not look like the same pitcher after the long top of the second and seemed to lose his command.

The Tigers got four runs back in the bottom of the second and Central chased Guilliams in the fourth after Shell's two-run single made it 10-7.

Central third baseman Brad LaBruyere fielded a grounder as Jackson's Caleb Hosey advanced to third during their game Saturday.

Petzoldt replaced Guilliams and gave up an RBI single to Stevens to make it 10-8. The Indians got out of the fourth when Petzoldt was able to catch Brooks Osburn trying to steal home. Central wanted a balk called on the play but did not get it.

Central had a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh after allowing Jackson to get back on top, but Lawson was able to close out the game for his second win in two days.

"They're a very good team, everyone in their lineup is skilled," Lawson said. "I've played with a couple of them my whole life. I know what they can do. They're all good hitters, I just hoped they hit the ball in some safe places."

Despite some help from Central's defense, the Jackson offense continued its torrid week. The Indians added 11 more hits Saturday, putting their three-game total this week to 33 hits.

Winkleblack was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and reached base four times for the Indians. Blake Reiminger added two hits for Jackson.

"Without a doubt, our offense has been coming around," Lawson said. "It's fun to see when the bats are coming alive."

Slattery, Shell and Eric Ennis had two hits apiece for the Tigers. Shell drove in three.

Jackson will gets its second chance for revenge when it faces Sikeston on Monday. Central and Sikeston each own one-run wins over Jackson this season. Sikeston's came thanks to a seventh-inning rally that was capped by an error on the Jackson pitcher. The Indians have never won the SEMO Conference tournament.

"Ever since then we've wanted to get them again," Lawson said. "That's been one of our goals since the beginning of the year to win the conference tournament."

Jackson 11, Central 10

Jackson 190 000 1 -- 11 11 2

Central 040 402 0 -- 10 10 3

WP -- Logan Lawson. LP -- Tyler Propst. 2B -- Blake Slattery (C). Multiple hits -- Jackson, Andy Winkleblack 2-3; Blake Reiminger 2-4; Central, Slattery 2-4; Alex Shell 2-4; Eric Ennis 2-4. Records -- Jackson 13-7, Central 11-7.