Jackson takes out frustrations on Notre Dame

A day after dropping a 14-1 decision at home to Sikeston, Jackson returned the favor on conference foe Notre Dame with a 14-0 five-inning rout Friday at Notre Dame Regional High School in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Jackson (17-3) opened the game with eight runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back, as the SEMO Conference regular-season champions finished with an undefeated conference record.

"We wanted to go into district without a two-game losing streak," Jackson coach Rex Crosnoe said. "We wanted to end on a high note, and we were able to do that today."

For the Bulldogs, Friday's loss snapped their seven-game winning streak. Still, Notre Dame (15-7) finished the season by winning 11 of its final 13 games.

"Sometimes it's good to be brought down to Earth before district week," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said. "I'd rather hit the skid this week than next week."

From the start of the game it was evident Notre Dame pitcher Blake Essner was not comfortable on the mound. With the help of four walks, four hits and a hits batsmen, Jackson chased Essner after one-third of an inning.

Jason Meystedt, Brandon Gendron and Trey Busch all had RBI hits in the first. Rex Meyr, the No. 9 hitter, had the big hit of the inning with a three-run double.

Jackson's eight-run explosion in the first came one day after picking up just three hits against Sikeston.

"We hit some balls hard and got some up into the wind," Crosnoe said. "We were selective at the plate."

Gendron added a solo home run in the third, and Meystedt hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning. Tyler Beussink and Derrick Biri added RBI sacrifice flies in the second inning.

Beussink improved his pitching record to 7-0 with three innings of work. Meystedt came in and struck out four over the final two innings.

"They had thrown earlier in the week, and it was time for them to throw, to get some work for next week," Crosnoe said of his two aces.

Friday's win gave the Indians a little revenge after dropping a 2-1 decision to Notre Dame in the conference tournament semifinals.

"I'm sure Jackson came in wanting a little redemption," Graviett said.

Notre Dame will start district play on Monday with a quarterfinal game against Doniphan in the Class 3 District 1 tournament at Sikeston. The Bulldogs are the No. 3 seed.

Jackson, the top seed in the Class 4 District 1 tournament at Farmington, has a bye on Monday and will play either Fox or Seckman on Tuesday.

"The kids will shake it off," Graviett said. "Tomorrow's a new day. We all start from scratch on Monday."

Jackson 14, Notre Dame 0, 5 innings

Jackson 821 30 -- 14 8 0

Notre Dame 000 00 -- 0 2 1

WP -- Tyler Beussink, 7-0. LP -- Blake Essner, 3-2. HR -- Brandon Gendron (J), Jason Meystedt (J). 2B -- Meystedt (J), Rex Meyr (J), Zach Brazer (J). Multiple hits -- Jackson, Meystedt 2-3; Gendron 2-3. Records -- Jackson 17-3, Notre Dame 15-7.