Jackson walks off with Game 1 win

Trent Wills didn't recall ever having a walk-off hit before.

Wills came through with one Thursday -- and thankfully for the Jackson Post 158 Senior American Legion baseball team.

Otherwise there is no telling how long the opening game of the Zone 4 tournament would have gone.

Wills' RBI double in the bottom of the 13th inning lifted host Jackson past Dunklin County Post 303 as the five-team, double-elimination event got under way at Whitey Herzog Stadium.

"I think it's my first one," said a grinning Wills. "It couldn't have been better."

The bottom of the 13th began when Kyle James drew a leadoff walk. He was forced at second base as Lane Thompson reached first on a fielder's choice while failing to put down a sacrifice bunt.

Up stepped Wills, whose line drive split the right-center field gap as Thompson raced home with the winning run.

"I knew it was in the gap. I was just hoping it would get down so he could score," Wills said.

Wills' shot ended a marathon matchup between the District 14 rivals who are very familiar with each other. Jackson has beaten Dunklin County in six of seven meetings this year.

"It's what you expect in postseason play. It was a good, hard battle," Jackson's Chase Simmons said.

Both teams had numerous opportunities to end things earlier but strong pitching and defense helped stem the tide.

Jackson (39-7) stranded 14 runners while Dunklin County (24-13) left 12 runners on base.

"Both teams had plenty of chances," Simmons said.

Jackson had the bases loaded and one out in the 11th but failed to score.

Dunklin County center fielder Justin Norman likely kept the game from ending in the 12th when, with a runner on first and one out, he fully laid out in the left-center gap to rob Cody Heisserer of what likely would have been a walk-off RBI double.

"It was a great game by both teams," Jackson coach Mark Lewis said.

Dunklin County built a 3-0 lead on a run in the fourth inning and two more in the sixth.

Jackson tied things with a three-run sixth, getting an RBI double from Simmons, an RBI sacrifice fly from Ryan O'Rear and an RBI squeeze bunt from James.

That's the way things stood until Jackson finally broke through in the 13th.

Steven Eddy pitched the first 9 1/3 innings for Jackson. He allowed three runs, two earned, and eight hits. He struck out six, walked one and hit two batters.

Kelby Brown notched the victory with 3 2/3 innings of one-hit, shutout relief. He struck out two, walked none and hit one.

"It was a big win," Brown said.

Tyson Campbell, who recently fired a shutout for Dunklin County's lone win over Jackson this season, gave up three runs and nine hits in 10 1/3 innings. He struck out five, walked five and hit two.

Blake White suffered the loss, allowing one run and two hits in two innings.

"The pitching on both sides was very good," Lewis said.

Wills had three of Jackson's 11 hits, including two doubles. He also walked twice and was hit once.

Simmons matched Wills with three hits, including two doubles.

Laban Petzoldt added two hits for Jackson.

Bryce Wallace had three of Dunklin County's nine hits. Campbell added two hits for Post 303, which plays Creve Coeur at 11 a.m. today in an elimination game.