Jackson baseball teams claims title of SEMO Conference tournament

It's been quite a season for the Jackson High School baseball team so far.

The good times kept rolling for the Indians Tuesday night as they captured their first SEMO Conference tournament title since 2009.

"It feels amazing," senior left fielder Trent Wills said.

The top-seeded Indians capped off a tournament that saw them win all three games by one run with Tuesday night's thrilling 3-2, eight-inning victory over third-seeded Poplar Bluff at Capaha Field.

"It's great because last year we got second and it's kind of a heartbreaker to get second," senior third baseman Cody Harris said. "We had a lot of seniors back and we really wanted this."

Jackson's Trent Wills slides safely into home during the Indians' win over the Poplar Bluff Mules in the SEMO Conference Championship game Tuesday, April 30, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau. (ADAM VOGLER)

Jackson (18-5), the SEMO Conference co-champions in the regular season, are now tied with Notre Dame and Sikeston for the most SEMO Conference tournament titles -- three -- since the event began in 2001.

It certainly wasn't easy as the Indians and Mules (14-4) went to extra innings for the second time in two weeks. Jackson posted a 4-1, 14-inning victory at Poplar Bluff on April 17.

"We're just dead even teams, and we had the last at-bat tonight," Jackson coach Tatum Kitchen said. "I wouldn't be surprised if we see them a third time [in the district tournament]."

Jackson's final at-bat, in the bottom of the eighth inning, produced the run that broke a 2-2 tie. The Indians had to work extra hard for it.

Wills, leading off, was hit by a pitch. Senior second baseman Ryan O'Rear put down a bunt, the throw to first hitting O'Rear and rolling in foul territory as Wills raced to third.

Jackson’s Cody Harris watches his an RBI double during the first inning of the championship game Tuesday. Harris also had the game-winning hit in the eighth inning.

It looked like the Indians would have a golden opportunity to score with runners on first and third and nobody out, but the umpires ruled that O'Rear was running out of the base line when the ball hit him.

O'Rear was called out and Wills had to return to first base.

"It's a really tough call for the umpires," Kitchen said. "I was very pleased with the way we reacted. It didn't throw us off."

Wills went to second on a wild pitch and senior first baseman Kyle James was intentionally walked to set up a force at all three bases.

Senior shortstop Laban Petzoldt laced a ground ball toward right field that probably would have scored the winning run, but Poplar Bluff second baseman Dean Dowd made a diving stop to keep the ball on the infield as Petzoldt reached with a single to load the bases.

Jackson pitcher Avery Whiteside throws to a Poplar Bluff batter during the championship game of the SEMO Conference tournament Tuesday at Capaha Field. (ADAM VOGLER)

Up stepped Harris, who drilled the second pitch he saw well over the head of Poplar Bluff's drawn-in right fielder for the walk-off RBI single as Wills trotted home.

"My main purpose was to try to get it in play," Harris said. "I got a good pitch to drive, and I hit it good."

Runs and hits were hard to come back for both teams, especially the Mules, whose only two hits came during their two-run third inning when they tied the score.

Jackson got three of their seven hits in the first inning and grabbed a 2-0 lead. Harris had an RBI double and Petzoldt drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Both starters were impressive.

Jackson junior left-hander Avery Whiteside pitched into the eighth inning before being relieved after walking the leadoff batter. He struck out two and walked four.

"My changeup was really working. I didn't throw many curveballs and my fastball was there when I needed it," Whiteside said.

Said Kitchen: "Avery was phenomenal. He doesn't get rattled and he throws strikes."

O'Rear notched the victory as he relieved Whiteside in the eighth inning and retired the Mules.

Poplar Bluff lefty Brandon Stuckenschneider allowed five hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked one. Logan Faith, who relieved to start the seventh inning, took the loss.

"We're pretty well matched it seems like," said Wills about the two squads.

Harris and Petzoldt both had two hits for the Indians, who feature eight senior starters in the lineup.

"When you've got seniors, they make you a better coach," Kitchen said. "We got all three wins in the tournament by one run ... that should tell you something."

Poplar Bluff 002 000 00 -- 2 2 1

Jackson 200 000 01 -- 3 7 1

WP -- Ryan O'Rear. LP -- Logan Faith. 2B -- Jeff Rowland (PB), Kyle James (J). Multiple hits -- Jackson: Laban Petzoldt 2-3, Cody Harris 2-4. Records -- Poplar Bluff 14-4, Jackson 18-5.