Jackson baseball team claims second straight district title with win vs. Cape Central

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Jackson and Cape Girardeau Central baseball teams each had their own thrilling games on Monday night.

The third-seeded Indians, who battled through extra innings to upset Sikeston, were able to harness the excitement and emotion from their semifinal to defend their Class 5 District 1 title with a 9-2 victory over the Tigers, who were diminished after their tough previous outings, on Wednesday at VFW Memorial Stadium.

"I think it was coming out with energy, not letting the extra-inning game the other night deflate energy and bring the same today," Jackson coach Bryan Austin said about the key for his team. "And we did."

Jackson's Gavon Turner pitches to a Cape Girardeau Central batter in the first inning of the Class 5 District 1 championship Wednesday, May 18, 2016 in Sikeston, Missouri.Glenn Landberg

The Indians (21-12) faced an early 2-0 deficit after the top of the first inning. Starting pitcher Gavon Turner, who pitched the final 2 2/3 innings against Sikeston, allowed three consecutive singles to start the game, including an RBI single off the bat of Brock Baugher. Another run scored on a groundout that put runners in scoring position.

The Indians were able to get the lead runner out at home on a 6-2 fielder's choice before Turner gave up his fourth hit and walked a batter to load the bases with two outs. He struck out Central designated hitter Justin Vaught to strand them.

"In a game like this, you look at our first inning. We probably should've scored one or two more that we didn't get, and it could've been a different game," Tigers coach Tatum Kitchen said. "We just didn't play well enough, and they're too good to not play well enough. And that's just what happens in these games."

Turner had a grin on his face when he said he had to "release some anger" in the dugout between innings. He and the Indians didn't allow another hit the rest of the game.

"For him to bounce back today, it really says something about his recovery the last couple days and buying into the recovery process and doing what it took to be able to get on the mound in the championship game," Austin said.

Jackson's Drew Brown makes the throw to first base after fielding a ground ball in the fifth inning.

Turner issued a leadoff walk in the third but faced the minimum as catcher Colten Weber gunned out a runner trying to steal second.

Third baseman Braedon Dobbs lunged to his left to make a snag on a hard liner to start the fourth and rob the Tigers of a hit.

Turner hit a batter with one out in the fifth but got a pair of groundouts to short to escape with no trouble.

The Indians' lone error came in the top of the seventh, and then Dobbs, who pitched the final inning, issued a walk. A double play and a groundout ended the game.

"If they don't make errors and they get pitching like they're capable of, they're capable of getting to the final four," Kitchen said. "I just think they're that good."

Cape Girardeau Central's Jacquen Cummins makes the throw to first base for an out against Jackson in the first inning of the Class 5 District 1 championship Wednesday, May 18, 2016 in Sikeston, Missouri.Glenn Landberg

Central committed three errors, one in each of the first three innings, and used five different pitchers in the loss.

Jackson, which scored in each of the first five innings, cut Central's lead in half in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Dobbs to right.

The Indians took the lead for good in the second. Skylar Pease reached with one out on a fielding error at short, Drew Brown followed with a base hit and Newell drew a walk to load the bases.

Starter Nick Wiggs got a strikeout and had a 2-2 count on No. 3 hitter Ryan Mize when Mize launched one to the wall in left for a double that cleared the bases and put Jackson up 4-2.

Wiggs, who took the loss on the mound, exited after the second.

Jackson scored on two bases-loaded walks in the third to extend its lead to 6-2.

Turner hit a one-out double in the fourth, and courtesy runner Justice Crosnoe later scored on a fielder's choice.

Newell singled, stole second and was driven in on a Weber single. Weber scored on a sacrifice fly for the final score.

"We picked a bad time to play poorly in spots against a team that's just too good to do that," Kitchen said. "I've said it for awhile -- they're they best team around talent-wise. They just had to deal with injuries. They had to deal with a tougher schedule than everybody else."

The Tigers wrap up their season with a record of 15-13. "We came a lot farther than people thought we would have," Kitchen said. "Our seniors just really gave everything they had. ... We played two really good games in a row and maybe just didn't have enough left in the tank, I don't know."

Jackson, which reached the Class 5 quarterfinals last season, will face the winner of Thursday's Class 5 District 2 championship between Oakville and Lindbergh in a state sectional on Tuesday.

"It was a great win. We came into the tournament playing really hot, really felt good about our baseball team, and they answered," Austin said. "We pitched the baseball really good all three games, played great defense and the bats have came alive in the last two weeks. I feel really good about our team."

Cape Central 200 000 0 -- 2 4 3

Jackson 132 120 X -- 9 9 1

WP -- Gavon Turner. LP -- Nick Wiggs. 2B -- Ryan Mize (J), Turner (J). Multiple hits -- Jackson: Jarrett Newell 3-3.