Jackson beats Tigers in tourney

KIRKWOOD, Mo. -- Jackson sophomore Cheryl Lichtenegger waited a long time for her first at bat as a varsity softball player.

Lichtenegger had played on the junior varsity team as a freshman and had made the varsity this year. But she patiently sat on the bench as the Indians struggled through five losses to open the season.

Jackson manager Julie Rushing decided to insert Lichtenegger into the lineup Saturday for the seventh-place game of the Cor Jesu Tournament against Cape Central.

Lichtenegger took full advantage with an RBI hit in her first at-bat of 2004.

That drove in the first run of the game, and it was follow the leader the rest of the way, as Jackson crushed Central 11-0 in a game stopped after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.

"I have been waiting for this the past two years," Lichtenegger said. "I hope I showed what I could do and that I will get some more chances."

Even in the seventh-place game of an eight-team tournament, Jackson pitcher Hannah Fowler said it was a big contest because it was against Cape Central.

"Everybody is pumped to play them no matter the circumstance," Fowler said. "They are most definitely our biggest rival, and they had beaten us in the first game of the season."

Jackson scored early and often after Lichtenegger got them started in the second inning. The Indians added two more runs in the that inning, scored one in the third, three in the fourth and four in the fifth.

Eight of the nine Jackson starters had at least one hit. The Indians finished with 12 overall. Hana Bolen, Amanda Pitts, Erika Kauffman and Rachael Peart led the way with two hits each.

Neither local team enjoyed a victory in three pool games. Central competed well in the two games Friday, losing to eventual champion Jefferson City 6-5 and to St. Louis Notre Dame 7-6. It was more of a struggle Saturday with a 6-2 loss to Verdigris (Okla.) and then the loss to Jackson.

The Indians lost pool play games to Lindbergh (8-4), Blue Springs (3-0) and Cor Jesu (4-1).

Jefferson City beat Cor Jesu 3-2 in the championship.