Jackson outduels Central

The Jackson baseball team managed just five baserunners in its season opener at rival Central on Tuesday.

The Indians pushed one of those runners across, though, and that was good enough to stymie an eight-hit performance by the Tigers in a 1-0 win.

"Our pitchers threw strikes, kept us in there," Jackson coach Rex Crosnoe said. "Our defense was right there. My hat's off to [Brad] LaBruyere. He flat came out and shut us down. But we were able to scratch across one. Luckily the run is what counts and not the hits."

LaBruyere struck out 13 batters, allowed three hits and walked two, going all seven innings for Central (2-5).

But Tyler Beussink and Jason Meystedt combined to shut out Central on eight hits, stranding at least one Tiger baserunner in every inning.

Jackson did not pick up its first hit until the fourth frame. LaBruyere struck out the side in the third and fourth innings and whiffed two in the second and two more in the seventh.

But Jackson used two hits in the fifth inning to manufacture its game-winning run. Trey Busch led off with a single, was sacrificed to second by Zach Brazer and scored on an RBI single by Tyler Beussink. Jackson also got a walk in the inning, giving it three of its five total baserunners for the game.

Crosnoe said because he has such an experienced club -- the Indians have eight seniors -- he knew they would be able to keep their composure and cash in on their chance.

"We've talked about the fact that we have a lot of returning guys, a lot of seniors," Crosnoe said. "That's what you expect out of your seniors."

While the Indians cashed in on their best opportunity, Central left runners on base left and right. The Tigers stranded 10 runners in all, with at least one player left on in every inning.

Central also had a runner in scoring position in every inning. The Tigers had four extra basehits and had several instances with a runner on third and less than two outs.

"We played well. Our pitcher pitched very well," Central coach Steve Williams said. "We had eight hits, four extra basehits. We just couldn't cash in when we had someone in scoring position. That's what killed us."

Each team made just one error.

Jackson's position players were put to work, as Beussink, the starter, and Meystedt made Central put the ball in play.

"That's what we really stress, defense," Crosnoe said.

Beussink, who was on a pitch count, threw four innings to pick up the win. He allowed five hits, struck out one and walked one.

Meystedt threw the final three innings, allowing two hits while striking out three and walking one.

"It worked out, as far as the pitching went, the way we wanted it to," Crosnoe said.

Ty Craft was 2-for-3 for the Tigers with a double and a triple. Brandon Cooper added two hits for the Tigers, including a double.

"Obviously you're disappointed any time you lose, but I'm pleased with the different parts of our game," Williams said.

Both teams are back at it today, when Jackson hosts Hillsboro and Central hosts Sikeston.

JACKSON 1, CENTRAL 0

Jackson 000 010 0 -- 1 3 1

Central 000 000 0 -- 0 8 1

WP -- Tyler Beussink, 1-0. LP -- Brad LaBruyere, 2-1. Save -- Jason Meystedt. 2B -- Brandon Cooper (C), Scott Brueckner (C), Ty Craft (C). 3B -- Craft (C). Multiple hits -- Central, Craft 2-3; Cooper 2-3. Records -- Jackson 1-0, Central 2-5.