Central softball team shuts out Jackson in district opener

The run the Central softball team scored in the top of the first inning with the help of a Jackson error was all senior pitcher Maggie Groshong needed Wednesday night.

But her team added on a run in the fourth, sixth and seventh anyway, and the sixth-seeded Tigers ousted third-seeded Jackson 4-0 in the opening round of the Class 4 District 1 tournament at Jackson City Park.

"Everything was just working for me honestly," said Groshong, who allowed just three hits in her gem. "My spots were getting hit, my breaking pitches were breaking nice. Sarah [Kitchen] behind the plate, she sets up exactly where they need to be. We both know the hitters, and our coaches know the hitters well. We did a good job knowing what we could throw to each hitter in order to get that success."

Jackson erased a three-run deficit to defeat Central earlier this season with a little help from the Tigers' defense, but Jackson coach Ashley Litzelfelner said Groshong's performance was similar.

"Last time we saw her, it was kind of the same thing," Litzelfelner said. "Our girls struggle with her. She has a lot of movement on her ball, and she has a pretty good changeup. She keeps our girls on their toes. She keeps them off-balance at the plate, and that's what a pitcher has to do."

Central celebrates after their 4-0 win over Jackson during the Class 4 District 1 quarterfinals in Jackson Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014. (GLENN LANDBERG)

The Central defense -- which has struggled at times this season -- committed just one error behind Groshong on Wednesday, and it was quickly erased when a Jackson runner was thrown out at home trying to take advantage of the miscue.

"They came off one of the best practices they've had all season long, and they are extremely focused," Central coach Amy Blattel said. "I'm not sure what it is about this team, but when it comes down to district play, their expectations of themselves increase and that's fun for a coach."

The Central bench was noticeably vocal throughout the game and even before it, when they chanted and cheered throughout warmups.

"I always say we play better with energy, and so I was one to emphasize the energy in the dugout," said senior second baseman Amanda Webb, who noted that several junior varsity players dressed out for the game. "We pulled all those girls up for that specific reason -- to have them, not necessarily as cheerleaders, but to be our fans."

A two-out error in the top of the first inning on an errant throw allowed Kitchen to reach for Central and Brooke Anderson drove her in with a single. Webb led off the fourth with a double and later scored on a single from Megan Smith.

Central's Maggie Groshong pitches to a Jackson batter in the third inning during the Class 4 District 1 quarterfinals in Jackson Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014. (GLENN LANDBERG)

"I just saw it coming in, and I know I can hit an outside pitch," Webb said of the double. "I just threw my hands at it and got my bat through the zone and drove it."

Madison Daum squeezed home Kaylie George in the sixth, and Webb added the final run when her sacrifice fly brought home Kitchen's courtesy runner in the top of the seventh.

"We knew coming into today that Jackson is a very tough team to play, and we knew it was going to be a big game," Blattel said. "So we knew we were going to have to be creative in the ways that we [scored]."

The win marked the third year in a row Central has ended Jackson's season with a loss in district play. The Indians finished the year 17-10.

"When we were in the huddle out there I said, 'I don't want to talk about this game,'" Litzelfelner said. "I said, ' I want to talk about our season.' This is one of the winningest seasons that Jackson's had in the last 10 years."

The Indians, with only one senior on their roster and freshman Sicily Johnston most often in the circle, claimed their conference title and finished second, third and fourth in tournaments this season.

"We have to come off with our heads held high," Litzelfelner said. "Central came out tonight, and they played harder than us. They just got the hits. They got the hits where they needed to get them. That's what wins ball games. We just couldn't put it together tonight."

Central, which won the 2012 district tournament hosted by Jackson as the No. 6 seed, advanced to face No. 2 seed Farmington at 1 p.m. today in a game that was moved up due to forecasted rain.

"The kids, I'm sure, talk about it," Blattel said of 2012. "But it's not one of those things that -- it's in the past, and this is a completely different team, a different energy with this team."

Central 100 101 1 -- 4 7 1

Jackson 000 000 0 -- 0 3 2

WP -- Maggie Groshong. LP -- Sicily Johnston. 2B -- Amanda Webb (C), Sarah Kitchen (C), Johnston (J).