Jackson reaches district semifinal game

Editor's note: The identification of the Jackson catcher has been corrected in this story.

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- There was one thing the fifth-seeded Jackson baseball team was seeking in its Class 5 District 1 first-round game against No. 4 Hillsboro: redemption.

After suffering a one-run loss on an error in the seventh inning when the teams met April 18, the Indians were ready for the rematch.

"Always want to get back at them for that," Jackson starting pitcher Michael Houchin said with a laugh.

The Indians redeemed themselves with a 10-6 defeat of the Hawks on Saturday at Wilson-Rozier Field in Farmington, Missouri.

Jackson right fielder Ben Maudie makes a diving catch of a fly ball by Hillsboro's Harry Markotay during the fifth inning in a first round game of the Class 5 District 1 baseball tournament Saturday, May 17, 2014 in Farmington, Mo. (Fred Lynch)

"We didn't want that [loss] to reflect on how we played today, And we didn't," second baseman Wyatt Eldridge said. "We came out hitting, we came out playing defense, and we were just ready for it."

The Indians jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning after center fielder Ryan Harvey hit a two-out, two-RBI double and scored when catcher Jordan Hadden doubled.

"We're more relaxed. Everybody's kind of got their at-bats in, everybody's ready for it," Eldridge said of the Indians' offense. "We know what we're going to see. We've seen the best of every team and so we're just ready."

Jackson picked up a critical run in the second. Eldridge was hit by a pitch, bunted to second and advanced to third on a groundout before first baseman Josh Barber singled him home.

The lead was jeopardized in the second inning after the Hawks plated three runs to cut it to 4-3, but Jackson scattered four hits in the fourth to score three more runs.

Jackson third baseman Cameron Duke takes the throw as Hillsboro's Seth Castleman reaches third base safely during the sixth inning in a first-round game of the Class 5 District 1 baseball tournament Saturday, May 17, 2014 in Farmington, Mo. (Fred Lynch)

Designated hitter Dante Vandeven singled to drive in a pair of runs and left fielder Landon Mills doubled to make it 7-3.

Hillsboro scored twice in their half of the inning but never came any closer.

Jackson added a run in the fifth and two in the sixth, and the Hawks picked up a run in the sixth for the final score.

Hillsboro had the bases loaded with two outs in the sixth, but reliever Avery Whiteside ended the threat with a strikeout.

"I never felt like it was safe," Jackson coach Bryan Austin said about the lead. "They swing extremely well. Their coaches have taught them really well. We just came out and played better on defense."

The Indians' defense was much-improved from the first meeting with Hillsboro, when it committed five errors.

Jackson committed a couple of errors, but made multiple defensive plays to slow down the Hawks' offense at critical times.

The Hawks' two-run fourth could've been worse. Barber snagged a high throw from third and tagged the runner for the first out.

Then Hadden attempted to throw a runner out stealing second. The initial tag was not in time, but the runner was tagged out when he slid off the base for the second out of the inning.

"I think it was the difference in the game," Eldridge said about the team's defense. "If we didn't make our plays today, then we might've been packing up and going home today. This might've been the end of our season. But we set our mind to it and we accomplished it."

The Indians will face top-seeded Seckman in a district semifinal at 4:30 p.m. Monday at Wilson-Rozier Field in Farmington, Missouri.

"They're by far the best team in the district," Austin said. "They swing extremely well. We saw their No. 1 pitcher earlier in the year -- he beat us 8-5. Again, that's another game we didn't play very good defensively, so we're ready for a rematch."

Jackson 310 312 0 -- 10 11 2

Hillsboro 030 201 0 -- 6 13 2

WP -- Michael Houchin. LP -- Zach Lynn. 2B -- Landon Mills (J), Ryan Harvey (J), Jordan Hadden (J), Wyatt Eldridge (J), Jarrett Hutchison (J), Seth Castleman 2 (H), Joshua Blake (H), Shayne DePung (H). Multiple hits -- Jackson: Hadden 2-4, Eldridge 2-3, Hutchison 2-3. Hillsboro: Castleman 2-4, Zach Hart 2-5, Jacob Kelam 3-4, DePung 2-3.