Jackson baseball reaches first final four in program history

The Jackson baseball team punched their ticket to their first final-four appearance with a 5-1 victory over Lafayette in the Class 6 quarterfinal on Saturday at Jackson Indian Stadium.

Both starting pitchers ran through the first three innings, allowing only a combined two hits and without an earned run.

Lafayette struck first by loading the bases in the fourth inning and drawing a walk from senior pitcher Caden Bogenpohl to lead 1-0.

Indians head coach Josh Roach said his team never gave up despite being behind, which is one of their best qualities.

“They don't give up. They keep fighting. Lafayette played a great game. It was tight there when they jumped on us in the top of the fourth,” Roach said. “It was a long and highly emotional inning and they got a run. We just talked to them and said they weathered the storm, now let's score some runs.”

Jackson's Baden Hackworth crosses home plate while his teammates in the dugout arrive to celebrate during a May 27, 2023 matchup between Jackson and Lafayette at Jackson Indian Stadium in Jackson, Mo. Jackson defeated Lafayette, 5-1, to advance to a Class 6 semifinal game.Cole Lee ~ Southeast Missourian

After the “storm” the Indians used a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth to not only tie but take the lead. Senior Jack Wyatt bunted down the first base line for an RBI single, scoring fellow senior Quinton Borders. The next run came when Wyatt was caught in a rundown but distracted the defense long enough for senior Baden Hackworth to steal home. Finally, senior Henley Parker grounded into a fielder’s choice that allowed senior Landon Watkins to score.

The Indians brought in junior pitcher John-Paul Sauer to close out the game, something Roach said was the plan the whole day.

“I felt like we had definitely the advantage on the mound over Lafayette even though their guy threw the ball really well. But we were gonna go with Bogenpohl to start because when we played them in the doubleheader a month and a half ago, J.P. threw the first game really well and they just kind of small-balled us and beat us 3-0,” Roach said. “They saw a lot of J.P. so I figured we would give them a little dose of Bogenpohl first and then once Bogenpohl got into where he needed to be relieved J.P. came in and finished it up and it all worked out.”

Jackson's Dylan Hayman turns his back to the camera, showing No. 33 in homage to the Indians' 33rd win of the season after a May 27, 2023 matchup between Jackson and Lafayette at Jackson Indian Stadium in Jackson, Mo. Jackson defeated Lafayette, 5-1, to advance to a Class 6 semifinal game.Cole Lee ~ Southeast Missourian

Worked out it did, as Sauer went the remaining three innings with four strikeouts, two walks and no earned runs. The offense also gave him some insurance as they scored two more runs when senior Grant Dotson scored on a wild pitch and Parker scored off a sophomore Cooper Rhodes groundout.

With the win, the Indians move on to battle the Francis Howell Vikings at 4 p.m. on June 2 at Sky Bacon Stadium in Ozark, MO. Jackson dropped a 16-6 game to the Vikings back in March, a game Roach said was played by an entirely different Indians team.

“We’re a much different team and they know that because they know we didn't play our best against them early, it was the fourth game of the season,” Roach said. “So the team that we're bringing there now is completely different than the team that they saw and they know that. It's gonna be a battle of heavyweights right there and it's gonna be a fun game.”