JHS FLASHES PAST CENTRAL 8-2

JACKSON, Mo. -- A combination of excellent defense, solid pitching and timely hitting keyed the Jackson Indians' 8-2 win over the Cape Girardeau Central Tigers at Legion Field Wednesday afternoon.

A five-run second inning proved huge for the Indians (10-10) as Cape Central (11-11) had put up two runs in the top of the frame.

Jackson's Lance Limbaugh doubled home Jason Brown, who had led off with a single, to narrow the deficit to 2-1. A perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Ricky Renfroe following an infield hit by Seth Harrell advanced the runners to second and third with one out. The tying run crossed the plate on a groundout by Brad Berry before consecutive two-out singles by Joey Beard, Michael Birk and Garrett Williams wrapped around a Central error plated three more Indian runs to send them up 5-2.

The Tigers' Justin Welker and Mitch Craft doubled home runs in the top of the second to account for all of Cape Central's scoring.

Then in the Cape Central fourth, after Jason Chavez and Welker had led off with walks, Jackson second baseman Matt Gordon made the first of two dazzling plays that were crucial to helping the Indians hold off the Tigers.

Diving to his right well past the shortstop side of second base, Gordon snared a grounder off the bat of T. J. Erlacker, which looked like a sure single, then flipped to shortstop Beard for the force of Welker at second. The Indians were able to get out of the inning unscathed.

In the fifth, Gordon flashed the leather again. This time he dove to his left to field a grounder to retire the Cape Central runner for the second out of the inning. Cape Central followed Gordon's play with a walk and a ground-rule double but, Jackson escaped without damage again.

Jackson, which has had trouble with its defense all season, made no errors Wednesday. Gordon's plays highlighted perhaps Jackson's best defensive outing of the season.

"Matt Gordon made about two of the best plays you're going to see a second baseman make," Jackson coach Sam Sides said.

Jackson added three insurance runs in the sixth inning, the big blow a two-run single by Patrick Kohm.

Jason Brown went 5 2/3 innings for the Indians to pick up the win. He tossed a five-hitter, while fanning six and walking five.

Dusty Roberts pitched a 1 1/3 innings of hitless relief, getting the final out in the sixth inning and pitching a scoreless seventh.

Cape Central starter John Thies took the loss, going only 1 2/3 innings while giving up five runs on six hits. Mark Wittenborn relieved and one-hit the Indians for 3 1/3 innings. The third Tiger hurler, Jay Pierce, surrendered the last three Jackson tallies.

"We didn't hit today and our pitching was poor, except for Mark Wittenborn," said Cape Central coach Steve Williams. "Mark did a good job."

Brown and Beard led the nine-hit Indian offense with two hits each, while Travis Wissman paced the Tigers with two hits.