Jackson baseball team defeats Perryville 10-0 in five innings

Jake Dobbelare nearly avoided damage twice.

But the Jackson offense refused to let the Perryville senior off the hook.

The Indians scored seven runs in the first two innings, all with two outs, on their way to a 10-0 victory in five innings Tuesday.

"We were just really able to string hits together, and that's really important," Jackson freshman Blake Reynolds said. "You can't just get one here, one there. You've got to be able to string them together."

Dobbelare struggled with his control from the start. He walked the first two Jackson batters he faced then plunked Alex Bolen to load the bases with no outs.

Jackson left fielder Trent Wills slides to catch a fly ball hit by Perryville’s Grant Dix during the second inning Tuesday in Jackson. The Indians won 10-0.

Dobbelare seemed to find his touch when he struck out the next two batters, but the wildness returned. He walked Clay Baker to force in a run. Reynolds stepped into the box, and another run scored on a wild pitch. Reynolds then roped a single to left field to score two more runs for a 4-0 lead.

"You're just trying to look for strikes and make him throw you a couple before you get your pitch and make sure you wait for your pitch," Reynolds said.

Dobbelare again tried walking the tight rope in the second. He recorded a strikeout before hitting the next two batters. He then got Bolen to line out to shortstop for the second out.

"Jake has been a solid guy, so you're going, ‘All it takes is one solid charge,'" Perryville coach Don O'Keefe said. "Get through this and things are going fine. It just didn't happen."

Trent Wills singled to right field to drive in two runs, which ended Dobbelare's day. He allowed seven runs on two hits, struck out three, walked four and hit three.

Jackson third baseman Blake Reynolds snags a ground ball hit by Perryville's Colby Brown in the third inning of the Indians' five-inning, 10-0, run-rule win over the Pirates Tuesday, April 24. (ADAM VOGLER)

"Jake just wasn't on, and to be honest with you, I'd say this was probably the worst that I've ever seen Jake in a long time," O'Keefe said. "It's been nothing like that. In fact this whole year it hasn't been anything like that. It's one of those days."

Jackson coach Tatum Kitchen credited his team's attitude at the plate for its success with two outs.

"The main thing would be having baserunners that are intelligent and hitters that are not going to give up and try to put the ball in play," he said. "I think sometimes you get two outs, you get guys thinking they're going to have to hit balls off the fence or whatever. I think it's just pecking away and making them play defense."

Jackson starter Steven Eddy didn't mind waiting through the long first and second innings because of the confidence boost provided by the seven-run lead.

"It helps tremendously because you're able to pitch with the lead," he said. "You think, ‘I'll just pitch and let them get hits so my defense can make plays for me.'"

Jackson junior Steven Eddy pitches to a Perryville batter during the first inning Tuesday in Jackson. Eddy allowed four hits over five innings in the Indians' 10-0 win. (ADAM VOGLER)

Eddy allowed four hits and struck out two and walked two. He said he mainly used his fastball then worked in his curveball to keep the Pirates off balance.

"I think the way he throws the baseball, he gets a little bit of a tail," Kitchen said. "I think also his arm angle is pretty similar on every pitch, so it's hard to pick up. He does not throw the ball exceptionally hard, but he's got very good control."

Jackson (8-8) sent the Pirates (11-3) home early with three more runs in the fifth inning. Lane Thompson and Ryan O'Rear singled home runs, and Bolen ended it with a single to left field to plate the 10th run of the contest. Four of Jackson's eight hits in the game came during the fifth inning.

Reynolds finished 3 for 3 with three RBIs, while O'Rear scored three runs.

The Indians return to action Friday in the SEMO Conference tournament. Jackson earned the No. 7 seed and will travel to No. 2 seed Kennett.

Perryville 000 00 -- 0 4 1

Jackson 430 03 -- 10 8 1

WP -- Steven Eddy. LP -- Jake Dobbelare. 2B -- Dobbelare (P). Multiple hits -- Jackson: Blake Reynolds 3-3. Records -- Perryville 11-3, Jackson 8-8.