Jackson opens tourney with win

~ The Senior Babe Ruth team collected a five-inning victory

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Alex Beussink had two triples and picked up the win on the mound Thursday during the Jackson Senior Babe Ruth's 12-1, five-inning win against Canton in the opening round of the Missouri Senior Babe Ruth State Championships.

Beussink, who entered the game batting .167, went 3 for 3 with 3 RBIs. His triples came in the first two innings.

"I don't think I've had two triples in a game my whole life. It's exhilarating running the bases," Beussink said. "Everything was going right for me today. I was waiting for the fastball."

Beussink also threw a complete game. He allowed one run on two hits, allowing three walks and striking out four.

"I had everything going today," Beussink said. "It was working really well."

Beussink improved to 3-2 and his ERA dipped below 1.90. Jackson improved to 24-4.

Jackson coach Paul Sander said seeing the right pitches was the key to his club's 13-hit performance.

"I thought we hit good pitches," Sander said. "I don't think we hit more than one or two bad pitches the entire game. We're good enough hitters that normally if we hit good pitches, we are going to stay in games."

Jackson scored six runs in the first inning and two in the second. Canton scored its lone run in the second, but Jackson responded with four more runs in the fourth.

Jackson second baseman Spencer Sander, who entered the game with a .397 batting average, was one of three Jackson hitters with multiple hits. Sander moved over .400 with a 3-for-3 performance.

"I was relaxing at the plate," Spencer Sander said. "Before I had been a little timid up there at the plate. I used to think about it a lot and get kind of nervous up there. Today I didn't worry about it. I just went out there and had fun and felt a lot more comfortable."

Brandon Bennett, Alex Beussink and B.I. Howard had two hits apiece.

Jackson continues play in the double elimination tournament today, facing Mineral Area at 4 p.m. in the second round .

"We played [Mineral Area] last year," Paul Sander said. "We won by two in a very competitive game. They have a lot of kids from West County High School. They will be fundamentally a good team."