Jackson coughs up lead against House Springs

With a week to go before the American Legion District 14 baseball tournament, the Jackson RE/MAX Achievers continued to struggle Tuesday night.

Jackson lost to House Springs American Legion 11-10.

The Achievers fell to 20-10 with their third loss in four days.

Leading 7-1 through three innings, Jackson's fielding faltered and House Springs capitalized with eight runs in the next three innings.

"Our defense was really lackluster," Jackson coach Mark Lewis said. "We kicked the ball around a lot."

The Achievers committed six errors, two in the fifth inning when House Springs scored two runs without a hit.

After Jackson pitcher A.J. Seiler walked Dave Richardson with one out, an infield error allowed Jake Jones to reach base. While Seiler struck out Mike Counts for the second out, he hurt himself with a wild pitch and then a throwing error on Jesse Bauman's slow roller.

Jackson avoided further damage in the inning, when Bauman was thrown out at home on a double steal attempt.

Seiler tired in the sixth, walking the first three hitters before being replaced by Josh Snell. Snell struck out the side, but House Springs scored four runs and took a 9-7 lead. Richardson's two-run double was the big blow.

Jackson answered with two runs in the seventh to tie the game 9-9. Brandon Gendron doubled off the fence in left, and Tyler Profilet delivered a two-run home run.

But the Achievers' defense again faltered, as House Springs scored two in the eighth. A dropped popup on the infield allowed one run to score.

"Our defense let us down again," Lewis said. "Nothing was routine, none of the balls. That hasn't been a sign of us, except for lately."

Jackson loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth and scored one run on a wild pitch, but Tony Longman struck out with two runners in scoring position.

Jackson had scored five runs in the first to take command. Gendron and Brandon Cooper drove in two each with doubles, as the Achievers batted around in the inning.

The Achievers added one run in the second and third innings. Gendron singled to score Trevor Thompson in the second, and Cooper scored on a Trey Busch single in the third.

"We're not playing very well," Lewis said. "It was better tonight, but we just have to go out and keep battling until we turn it around."