Jackson's title chase falters in extra innings

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- The magical summer for Jackson's Senior Babe Ruth baseball team fell agonizingly short of an ultimate prize.

With a Senior Babe Ruth World Series berth on the line, Minnesota beat Jackson 6-3 in eight innings Wednesday in the finals of the Midwest Plains Regional.

So Minnesota, represented by the Minnetonka Mudhens, moves on to Moses Lake, Wash., for the World Series that will be played Aug. 15 through 22.

"We really wanted to keep our season going," Jackson's Chris Roth said.

Jackson (33-7) probably had its best shot the day before, when it entered the championship round of the eight-team, double-elimination tournament as the only squad without a loss.

The Minnetonka Mudhens pile onto one another Wednesday following the championship win over Jackson in the Babe Ruth Midwest Plains Regional tournament in Charleston, Mo. (Kit Doyle)

Minnesota denied Jackson the title by scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning -- all with two outs -- to win 8-7.

That forced Wednesday's winner-take-all matchup that proved to be just as close as the teams ended the regulation seven innings tied 2-2.

"We had three tremendous games with them," said Jackson coach Paul Sander, whose squad beat Minnesota 8-7 in Monday's winners bracket final.

Although Wednesday's deciding contest was well played overall, each side scored just one earned run thanks to a couple of key errors.

Jackson's came in the deciding top of the eighth inning, when the Mudhens (37-6) scored four unearned runs to break the tie.

Jackson's Ryan Bass reacts to being called out on a steal attempt Wednesday.

With one out, Joe Knudsvig walked and Luke Irrgang singled as Knudsvig advanced to third.

That marked the end of the day on the mound for Austin Mueller, who had been brilliant in keeping the Mudhens at bay.

Roth, Jackson's ace, moved in from center field to pitch. Trent Seamans reached on a ground ball fielder's choice as Jackson tried to throw out Knudsvig, who initially broke for the plate, but he was able to get back safely to third.

With the bases loaded now, second baseman Spencer Sander made a diving stop on a ground ball hit by Bryce Tuma. Sander fired to the plate in time to nail Knudsvig, but the ball was dropped as Knudsvig scored the tie-breaking run.

Roth got a strikeout before allowing a two-run single to Kyle Freienmuth and an RBI double to Trevor Oestenstad.

Jackson catcher Josh DeBrock tags out Minnetonka's Kyle Freienmuth to end the top of the eighth inning Wednesday in the Babe Ruth Midwest Plains Regional tournament in Charleston, Mo. See more photos from the game in a gallery at semissourian.com.

"That was an unfortunate play at the plate, but the game was lost in innings one through seven," Paul Sander said. "You can't only score two runs against a team that good."

Jackson, which staged numerous comebacks in the tournament, threatened to do it one more time.

After the first batter was retired in the bottom of the eighth, three singles and an error brought in a run and left the bases loaded.

But a strikeout and a fly ball to center ended Jackson's championship hopes.

"I thought for sure we'd come back," Mueller said.

Mueller gave Jackson every opportunity for a rally.

Primarily a starter during the regular season, Mueller moved to the bullpen for the postseason since not as many starters are needed.

But with Jackson playing its fifth regional game Wednesday, Mueller got the nod and came through with flying colors.

"When you get down to this point in the tournament, you're not sure who to start," Sander said. "We decided on Austin because we could put our best defense on the field.

"He did a tremendous job through seven-plus innings."

Although he was the tough-luck loser, Mueller allowed just one earned run on eight hits in 7 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one.

"I just stayed low in the zone and helped keep my team in the game," Mueller said. "The defense helped me out a couple of innings, like they always do."

Roth turned in perhaps the defensive gem of the tournament when he laid out fully extended to catch a Knudsvig fly ball that looked like it already was behind Jackson's center fielder.

That fifth-inning grab, which came with a man on second and Minnesota ahead 2-0, saved one run and might have prevented a big frame.

Jackson tied it in the bottom of the fifth with two unearned runs, which set the stage for another heart-stopping finish between the teams.

Jackson had only seven hits, including just four through the first seven innings, after collecting 38 hits in its previous three games. Garrett Fritsche led the way with two hits.

"We just didn't hit well enough today," Sander said.

Oestenstad had three of Minnesota's 10 hits.

Despite coming so close to a regional title, Jackson had no regrets after entering the tournament as the only non-state champion in the field.

"A lot of people said we shouldn't even be here because we didn't win state," Roth said. "I think we proved we belong."

Jackson qualified for the regional by finishing second in the state tournament behind Charleston, which already had a regional spot locked up as the host squad.

"Hardly anybody expected us to win a game here," Sander said. "I'm very proud of what these guys accomplished."