Jackson Junior American Legion drops state tourney opener

The Jackson Junior American Legion baseball team suffered a heartbreaker in the opening round of the state tournament Thursday.

Jackson entered the bottom of the seventh inning with a two-run lead, but Blue Springs Fike scored three runs in the bottom of the inning for the 9-8 win.

The winning run scored on a balk.

Joe Elfrink went 3 for 4 with a homer and Laban Petzoldt went 2 for 4 with a homer in the loss.

Steven Porzelt went 1 for 3. He took the loss on the mound.

Steven Eddy went the first six innings and allowed five earned runs and 15 hits.

Jackson opened a 2-0 lead but Fike scored four unearned runs in the second inning for a 4-2 lead.

Jackson rallied for an 8-6 lead before falling in the final inning.

Jackson, the tournament host, will face Dixon at 2 p.m. today. Dixon suffered an 11-8 setback to Eureka on Thursday.

-- From staff reports