Horrible weekend ends for Jackson

It was a weekend to forget.

After dropping a 16-5 game to District 14 rival Cape Girardeau on Saturday, Jackson's American Legion team suffered a 20-3 seven-inning rout at the hands of district opponent Dunklin County on Sunday at Jackson.

"We had without a doubt a horrible weekend," Jackson coach Mark Lewis said. "We're going to have to regroup and get back on the right track."

Little went right for Jackson's RE/MAX Achievers (20-9, 1-4). Early home runs by Eric Dent and Brian Cagle gave Dunklin County a 5-0 lead heading into the bottom of the second inning. Jackson's hard luck continued on the offensive side as well.

Jackson was able to load the bases with the help of a wild streak from Dunklin starter Dylan Gurley. Dunklin got out of the inning unscathed with the help of a line-drive double play to end the inning.

It all went south for Jackson in the third, when Dunklin County put 11 runs on the board to blow the game open. Jackson starter Josh Snell left after Dunklin County put across its 11th run. Reliever Jason Owen did not fair much better, allowing a three-run home run to Dustin Boatright to push the score to 15-0.

"It was unreal," Lewis said of Dunklin's offensive day. "They hammered the ball and everything they hit went in. It was just an amazing game."

Boatright capped off Dunklin County's scoring with a grand slam in the fourth inning. After four innings Jackson trailed 20-0. Jackson's pitchers were able to hold Dunklin scoreless the final three innings. Brandon Cooper threw the final inning for Jackson, his first of the summer.

"We're out of pitching," Lewis said.

After putting up only one hit through six innings, Jackson finally put up a little fight in the seventh. Aaron Green and Josh Foster hit back-to-back doubles to get Jackson its first run. Cooper followed Foster with a single, and Trey Busch hit a bases-loaded double to drive in two more runs.

With only a week remaining before the district tournament Lewis said it is important his team snaps out of its current funk.

"The big part of it is we need to get back to playing well," he said. "We want to go into the district tournament with some momentum."