Dunklin Co. overcomes Jackson to reach final

Dunklin County moved one win away from its second consecutive District 14 championship with a come-from-behind 11-9 victory against host Jackson that began Wednesday night and ended in the wee minutes of Thursday morning at Legion Field.

Post 303 had to rally after falling behind 7-1 after 2 1/2 innings.

"District Legion games are nine-inning games, and anything can happen," Dunklin County coach Jamie Johnson said. "I'm really proud of the kids for not laying down."

Dunklin County rallied twice in a game where nearly everything did happen.

After Jackson built its lead and knocked Dustin Hunter out of the box, Sloan Richardson quieted Jackson's bats enough to allow Dunklin County to rally.

Post 303 knotted the game 7-7 with its tying tally coming in the bottom of the sixth on a controversial play. Dunklin County had runners on second and third with no outs when a balk was called on Jackson pitcher Travis Hurst, who made a pitch without stopping in the stretch. Aaron McCaig hit the pitch into left field, scoring one run. An outfield bobble allowed the second run to score as McCaig finally took off for first base and reached safely. Somewhere in between, an umpire called a dead ball.

After about 20 minutes of conversation, one run was scored, one baserunner left on third and McCaig placed on first with an RBI single. After a walk loaded the bases, reliever Drew Coleman retired the next three batters to end the threat.

Jackson then jumped back on top in the seventh when Ryan Cheney walked to open the frame and Ethan Devenport smashed a home run to left field. Those were the lone runs scored against Richardson in his five innings of relief work.

Heath Horvath pitched the final 1 2/3 innings for the save, which included an out on a wild pitch on a play at the plate in the eighth inning.

Horvath struck out the side in the ninth, when one batter reached by error.

Dunklin County, meanwhile, scored three in the seventh and another in the eighth to cap its comeback.

Dunklin County 11, Jackson 9

Jackson232000200--994

Dunklin10212131x--1193

WP -- Sloan Richardson; LP -- Drew Coleman; Sv -- Heath Horvath. 2B -- Ryan Cheney (J), Kyle Reynolds (J), Horvath (D) 2, HR -- Ethan Devenport (J), Austin Jackson (D). Multiple hits -- Jackson, Blake Reiminger 2-4, Jake Hime 2-5; Dunklin, Dustin Hunter 2-5, Austin Jackson 2-4.