Jackson sluggers win in dramatic fashion

The Jackson Indians baseball team defeated the Spartans of DeSmet Jesuit High School 6-5 on Saturday at Jackson Indian Stadium. Senior Quentin Borders drew a walk in the bottom of the seventh that brought in a run and gave the victory to the Indians.

Jackson head coach Josh Roach said he enjoyed the level of competition and how much it felt like a playoff game.

“Our goal was to get games like this before the season was over to get some of that playoff feel,” Roach said. “So when we got into the playoffs, we knew what that feels like.”

The game began as a pitcher's battle between Jackson junior JP Sauer and DeSmet senior Jason Smith, with Smith not allowing a run until the fourth inning and Sauer not allowing a hit until the same time.

The offense of the Indians was led by Borders who finished the day going 2-3 with a walk and four RBIs including a two-run home run in the sixth. Sauer went six innings on the mound and had 10 strikeouts with no walks and three earned runs.

In the top of the sixth, DeSmet senior Quinn Argetsinger drove the ball out to deep left field for a home run that gave the Spartans a 3-1 lead. Roach said he was proud of how Sauer pitched and how the defense backed him up.

“I was really happy with how John Paul threw the baseball today, he made one mistake to a good hitter, and that happens, good hitters are going to do that. Defensively, I thought we played well,”

Roach said.

The offense for the Indians woke up in the bottom half of the sixth to tie the game at three before DeSmet took another lead, this time at 5-3. The Spartans brought in sophomore Brayden Wakula to close out the bottom of the seventh and he started well, getting the first Jackson batter to roll a groundball for the first out. Two singles by Indian seniors Jackson Wyatt and Grant Dotson and a ball that hit senior Henley Parker loaded the bases and ended Wakula’s day.

DeSmet then brought in sophomore Sylvester Tournier to try and get out of that sticky situation. Sophomore Cooper Rhodes stepped to the plate for the Indians and delivered a line drive single to right field, bringing in Wyatt and Dotson and tying the ball game at 5-5. With the game tied and men on second and third, the Spartans elected to walk Jackson power hitter senior Caden Bogenpohl.

That was the moment that brought Borders back up for the Indians who drew his lone walk of the game to win in walk-off fashion. Roach said it was a good win over a great time and his team showed a lot of resilience.

“We got down early, and then we responded. Every time they would get up on us we'd respond and tie it up. Every time they punched us we'd punch back and that's how you win high-level games,” Roach said. “This was a good way to get ready to head into the postseason.”

Jackson has three regular-season games left before the Class 6 District 1 begins on May 17 at host site Northwest (Cedar Hill) High School.