Jackson tops state champs

Jackson's baseball team faced a tall task entering this week.

In four days the Indians were scheduled to play North County, the defending Class 3 state champion, Notre Dame and Sikeston. North County and Sikeston were ranked 1-2, respectively, in the Class 3 coaches' preseason state poll.

The Indians (7-2) started the week on the right foot, upsetting the Raiders (10-2) 4-3 on a cold and windy day Monday at Jackson.

"We knew coming in this was going to be a tough week for us," Jackson coach Rex Crosnoe said. "So for us to get a win the first day is huge."

Added Jackson outfielder Trevor Thompson, "It's a big boost for the week. I think this shows us what we can do. They're ranked in the state, so if we can beat them we can beat anybody."

Jackson senior starter Brandon Stearns was the story for Jackson. Pitching on his birthday, Stearns allowed six hits and only three walks in six innings.

While it was a nice birthday present, Stearns said no one made too big a deal out of it.

"I don't think half of them knew," he said of his teammates. "I just mainly tried to keep to myself in the beginning of the game and get ready."

North County didn't have more than one hit in any inning, and Jackson pitchers forced three double plays to get out of jams.

"That's a tribute to Brandon Stearns," Crosnoe said of North County's hitting woes. "He kept the ball down. They had a lot of ground ball outs."

North County struck first in the second inning. With one out, Ryan Blankenship hit a high pop fly to left field which was misplayed into a single. Blankenship scored when Nick Eckl's line drive to center field bounced over the head of Jackson's center fielder.

Jackson answered with two runs in the second. Rex Meyer led off the inning with a single and went to third on a hit-and-run single by Minson. Meyer scored on a wild pitch, and Tyler Beussink drove home Minson with a double.

"We put the ball in play and our hitters didn't strike out much," Crosnoe said. "Good things happen when you do that."

Adam Howard, who went 3-for-3 for the Raiders, tied the game in the top of the third with a home run to straight center.

Jackson moved ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double by Thompson. However, Jackson failed to add any more runs in the inning after loading the bases with nobody out.

Jackson scored the game-winning run in the fourth inning when Beussink led off with a double and later scored on a Tyler Profilet sacrifice fly.

North County trimmed the lead to 4-3 in the sixth inning on a Justin Neely home run off Stearns, but the Raiders would not score again.

North County had one last good chance in the seventh. Stearns was removed after walking the leadoff hitter, but Kyle Brown came in and got a force out at second on a sacrifice bunt, then induced a double play for his third save of the season.

Stearns said it was Jackson's defense which really made the difference.

"They made the plays when we needed it," he said.

Beussink, Minson and Thompson had two hits apiece for Jackson. The Indians will play Notre Dame today and then meet Sikeston on Thursday.

"It was a great win for us," Crosnoe said. "North County's got a successful baseball program, and we came out and believed and had great pitching from Stearns."

Jackson 4, North County 3

North County 011 001 0 -- 3 5 1

Jackson 021 100 X -- 4 8 3

WP -- Brandon Stearns. LP -- Wes Foshee. HR -- Adam Howard (N), Justin Neely (N). 2B -- Tyler Beussink 2 (J), Nick Eckl (N), Trevor Thompson (J). Multiple hits -- North County, Howard 3-3; Jackson, Thompson 2-2; Beussink 2-3; Chad Minson 2-3. Records -- Jackson 7-2, North County 10-2.