Jackson upends Hillsboro for district title

JACKSON -- Sophomore hurler Chad Scroggins had thrown just 17 varsity innings this spring entering Friday's Class 4 District 1 title game against Hillsboro.

Still Scroggins, who pitched much of the season on the junior varsity, was confident when coach Rob French informed him about two hours before the game that he would be the starting pitcher. And he remained confident throughout while his curveball remained difficult for Hillsboro batters to hit.

The sophomore tossed his second complete game this season to help lead the fourth-seeded Indians to a 13-5 victory over No. 2 Hillsboro.

Scroggins struck out three while giving up five hits. Just one of the runs he surrendered was earned.

Jackson (12-11) claimed its first district championship since 2005 and advanced to play Francis Howell (21-3) in a sectional contest Tuesday.

"My adrenaline was pumping the whole time," Scroggins said. "I'm just happy. I'm psyched. My adrenaline is still pumping right now."

Scroggins earned his second victory of the season to improve to 2-1. He lowered his ERA to 1.46.

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.com Jackson's Matt Lang stole home as Hillsboro catcher Sam Pounds made a diving attempt to make the tag during the first inning of the Class 4 District 1 championship game Friday at Jackson City Park.

"The thing I like about him is that he works down and he keeps the ball down and makes it really difficult for really good hitters to hit the ball," French said. "He hasn't been giving up the big inning this year. That's one thing we didn't want against Hillsboro.

"They hit the ball really well throughout the year. We knew that they could hit the fastball. We knew they could match fire with fire. We thought with him keeping them off balance and working down in the zone, we'd have success against them."

Scroggins looked strong early and late. He retired the first six batters of the game, and eight of the last nine.

"He's kind of the resident rookie," French said. "He's a quiet kid at times on the field, but he has so much quiet confidence. That's the thing about him. You see him smiling a lot on the field and having a good time every time he's out on the field. Saying that about a sophomore and throwing a district championship game, that says a lot."

Throwing strikes consistently on the junior varsity helped Scroggins earn varsity time. He said he was excited from the moment he arrived at the ballpark.

"I came here today and I asked coach who was pitching, and he looked at me and said, 'You,'" Scroggins said. "I was pumped up and ready to pitch.

"In a way, I thought it would be Caleb [Guilliams], but I also figured it may be me because I hadn't thrown yet."

The Jackson offense got its rookie pitcher a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Leadoff hitter Matt Lang doubled to right. He later scored by stealing home.

"The ball was there at about the same time, but he [the catcher] never did touch me," Lang said. "He was on the far side of the plate, and I slid my hand across the other side. ... I told coach French I could get it done if he gave me a chance."

The Indians gained a 2-0 advantage in the second inning when Lang grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Josh Duncan, who led off the inning with a double.

Jackson tagged on three runs on three hits and one Hillsboro error in the third to take a 5-0 lead.

Hillsboro scored two in the bottom half of the third to pull back within three runs at 5-2. But the Indians kept pounding away during their trips. They scored five runs in the fourth on two hits and three Hillsboro errors. The inning was capped off when No. 9 hitter Guilliams smashed a double to left-center with the bases loaded.

Guilliams' hit scored all three runners and gave the Indians a 10-2 advantage.

"I've struggled throughout the year," Guilliams said. "Hitting in the nine hole, you're going to see a lot of fastballs. He got behind and I was looking fastball."

Hillsboro scored three in the bottom half of the fourth to cut its deficit to 10-5. But that was the closest it would come to Jackson and Scroggins.

Scroggins retired the side in order in the fifth and sixth innings on five fly ball outs and a strikeout.

"My curveball was working great today," he said. "Probably the best curveball throwing I've done for a while."

Catcher Tyler Qualls added about Scroggins: "He was accurate and right on the money today. Unbelievable. He stepped up big. I think he had some nerves in the middle of the game, but he came back nice."

Jackson went ahead 13-5 with three runs in the seventh inning. With an eight-run lead, Scroggins went out to pitch the bottom of the seventh with the top of Hillsboro's order at the plate. He walked the first batter, but remained calm.

"Some of my pitches weren't working then and there," he said. "I just got it through my head and said, 'Don't worry about him. We're up eight. Just go after the next guy.'

"I hate getting taken out. I just wanted to stay in."

The sophomore struck out the next batter. He then got Hillsboro's No. 3 hitter, Zach Winchester, to ground into a game-ending double play.

"Chad pitched great," Guilliams said. "We just booted a couple balls behind him. Late in the season, we've started to bring him up. He's one of those guys who could have been up all year."

Jackson 113 500 3 -- 13 11 3

Hillsboro 002 300 0 -- 5 5 7

@z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:WP -- Chad Scroggins, 2-1. LP -- Bryar Langley. 2B -- Matt Lang (J), Andy Winkleblack (J), Josh Duncan 2 (J), Caleb Guilliams (J). Multiple hits -- Jackson: Ryan Cheney 2-5, Duncan 3-4, Guilliams 2-5. Records -- Jackson 12-11, Hillsboro 17-10.