Festus ends Jackson's streak

Festus defeated the host 15-3 in the first-round game.

Being the host team may have guaranteed Jackson's American Legion team a spot in the Zone 4 Tournament, but it also prevented Jackson from receiving a first-round bye.

The zone bracket, which is predetermined before the season begins, gave the bye to District 14 runner-up Cape Girardeau and gave Jackson probably the toughest first-round matchup.

Jackson's draw proved to be just that, as Festus pounded the host team 15-3 in seven innings on Thursday night, ending Jackson's 15-game winning streak.

Jackson will take on Manchester today at 10 a.m. in an elimination game, while Festus will play Cape at 1 p.m. today. The winner of that game will play Anheuser-Busch, which won 6-4 over Manchester, at 8:30 tonight for a spot in Saturday's championship game.

Against Festus, Jackson struck first with an RBI single from Chad Minson in the bottom of the first inning for a 1-0 lead.

The score remained that way until the top of the third, when Festus unloaded for seven runs on six hits. Festus sent 12 batters to the plate and was helped by four of Jackson's five errors.

After Jackson made it 7-2 in the bottom of the third, Festus put the game away in the top of the fifth with five runs off three hits, three walks and a hit batsman. Jackson starting pitcher Tyler Beussink issued a bases-loaded walk before being relieved by Tony Longman, who proceeded to hit his first batter then walk the next -- both with bases loaded.

Festus capped its offensive attack with a two-run home run by Zak Shy in the sixth inning to make it 15-3.

"We definitely wanted to come out and play well," Jackson coach Mark Lewis said. "I didn't think we did that, and Festus was a big part of that.

"We have to come out early and start swinging the bats and start another winning streak."

Beussink pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing 13 runs with two strikeouts and four walks. Longman pitched through the sixth, and Joel Penrod pitched a scoreless seventh inning.

For Festus, starting pitcher Horrell struck out nine batters through six innings of work, and Dave Williams pitched the seventh. The duo allowed just three hits.

Anheuser-Busch 6, Manchester 4

Tom Stevison had a two-run double in the sixth inning that gave Anheuser-Busch the lead for good over Manchester.

A-B, the defending zone champ, took a 4-1 lead with a three-run sixth inning and held on for the victory.

Stevison also got the save by escaping a two-on, no-out jam in the ninth inning. Manchester scored one run that inning to cut the game to two.

Scott Reese was the winning pitcher with 7 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs on nine hits.

Matt Patterson took the loss, allowing four runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Manchester had 11 hits to A-B's nine.