Jackson ekes out 1-0 win on two hits in Class 4 District 1

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Jackson baseball team managed just two hits Wednesday.

But a crucial North County error, a clutch hit and the continued pitching brilliance of Mason Sander was enough for the Indians to capture a district title.

Sander fired his second straight shutout in the Class 4 District 1 tournament and a fifth-inning unearned run stood up as the fourth-seeded Indians nipped the seventh-seeded Raiders 1-0.

The win at Poplar Bluff High School sends the Indians (17-7) into Tuesday's sectional round, where they will play at either Pacific or Washington. Those squads meet today in the District 2 final.

"That was some game," Jackson first-year coach Tatum Kitchen said. "We beat them [North County] a week ago 14-4 and they were the last team I wanted to play. We knew they were a lot better than the seventh seed.

Jackson's Tyler Koch and North County's Caleb Boyer await the umpire's call on a pickoff play during the fifth inning. Boyer was called safe.

"I didn't think we'd be held down [offensively] as much as we were. Their pitcher [Derek Emily] threw a great game. I thought we'd score more than one run. But a district championship, we'll take it."

Emily was impressive, but so was Sander as he followed Saturday's two-hit shutout of rival Central in the first round by firing another gem to run his district scoreless streak to 14 innings.

Sander, a junior right-hander who improved to 6-1, allowed three hits while striking out eight and walking four.

"One word I would use to describe him, he's a winner," Kitchen said. "He's just a competitor. He doesn't get rattled."

Sander said he had better stuff against Central but wasn't about to complain after his latest shutout.

Jackson players celebrate Wednesday's win.

"I think the Cape game was the best I've pitched. I had more velocity," Sander said. "My breaking pitches -- my curve and changeup -- worked pretty well today."

The biggest jam Sander faced was caused partly by his errant throw -- to second base, not the plate -- for Jackson's lone error of the day.

North County's Caleb Boyer led off the top of the seventh inning with a single. Spencer Tiefenauer attempted to sacrifice but Sander got to the bunt quickly and had plenty of time to retire Boyer at second. Sander, however, threw high, which allowed Boyer to slide in safely as Tiefenauer reached first base.

"It just kind of came out of my hand funny," Sander said. "I didn't want to overthrow it and I kind of lobbed it."

With runners on first and second and nobody out, North County tried another sacrifice. Sander again quickly got to the bunt put down by Nick Basler and this time fired a strike to third base to force out Boyer.

"I was a little nervous, but I winged it over there," Sander said.

Jackson's defense, strong all game, then closed out the victory by turning a double play. Shortstop Matt Crader fielded Brian Jaco's ground ball and quickly flipped to second baseman Logan Bartels, who fired to first baseman Tyler Koch.

"That was a tough play but they turned it great," Sander said. "They played real good defense, like they have all year."

The day's lone scoring inning, the bottom of the fifth, began with an error as Sander's ground ball was booted by shortstop Sam Hulsey.

Courtesy runner Mark Copen still was on first base with two outs when the sophomore stole second.

"We brought him up from the JV strictly to courtesy run. He's fast," Kitchen said.

The steal paid off when sophomore Dylan Koehler lined a single to right field on a 3-2 pitch as Copen scored with plenty to spare.

"The pitch was inside but I inside-outed the ball over the second baseman's head," Koehler said.

Koehler is Jackson's No. 9 hitter in the lineup but has the second-best batting average on the team.

"We like to hit him ninth to basically reset the order," Kitchen said. "We don't have an automatic out in the lineup."

Jackson's only other hit off Emily was a third-inning single by Koch. Emily, a senior right-hander, struck out four, walked one and hit two batters.

"He [Emily] was better than what we expected," Koehler said. "He kept it away from us. His breaking ball buckled our knees."

North County coach Kyle Yount said he expected Emily, who did not pitch when Jackson hammered the Raiders last week, to perform well.

"He's been tough all year. His record doesn't show it. We haven't scored many runs for him," Yount said.

Jackson, which captured its second district title in three years, gave Kitchen his first crown in his rookie season despite having just three seniors: Koch, Crader and star catcher Tyler Qualls.

"We've got a good group of athletes, a good group of guys to coach," said Kitchen, son of former longtime Central baseball coach Terry Kitchen.

As thrilling as Wednesday's victory was, the Indians don't want to stop now.

"It was really exciting," Sander said. "We're looking forward to moving on."

North County 000 000 0 -- 0 3 3

Jackson 000 010 x -- 1 2 1

WP -- Mason Sander, 6-1. LP -- Derek Emily. Records -- North County 14-15, Jackson 17-7.