Missed chances doom Jackson's chase for softball district title

The upset-minded Jackson softball team managed to get a runner to third base in the first two innings of Saturday's Class 4 District 1 championship game.

But the Indians, the No. 3 seed, couldn't deliver the big hit against top-seeded Hillsboro.

"We put some stuff together the first few innings and we couldn't pull through," Jackson coach Amanda Forester said. "We didn't get the big hit. We struggled a little bit at the plate today. Every day is different and today we just didn't have it. If we would have scored those first couple of innings, I believe it would have been a totally different ballgame. I believe we would have had a different mindset."

Hillsboro opened the scoring with a pair in the second before the floodgates opened in the third and fourth innings. The Hawks' offense erupted for six runs in the third and seven in the fourth to end the game early. Jackson only recorded two outs before Hillsboro claimed the 15-0 win and the district title.

"We just stayed focused and stayed back on the ball and swung through, followed through," Hillsboro junior Sierra Thompson said. "I think we all did good all around."

Jackson's Mallory Jones pitches during the fourth inning of the Class 4 District 1 title game Saturday in Jackson. (Kristin Eberts)

Hillsboro pulled away, but Jackson had a couple of chances early. A walk and infield hit by Katie Garner put runners on the corners with two outs in the first, but Hillsboro pitcher Rachel Arnold recorded a strikeout to end the threat.

Lauren Anderson's single then a walk and wild pitch gave the Indians runners at second and third with two outs, but Arnold got Brooke Whitledge to pop out to second.

"She was a tough pitcher," Garner said of Arnold. "We've been facing a lot of faster pitchers lately, and with her, we really had to sit and keep our weight back and drive it. We weren't doing that. We were popping everything up. She was pretty tough. She was throwing us off a little bit. I would have bet that if we would have had a little more time, we would have gotten the hang of her."

Arnold's strikeout to end the first inning was her lone punch out of the game. She walked three.

"That's what we've been working toward all season, being able to hit different speeds and different types of pitchers, and we just weren't able to hit today," Garner said.

Jackson catcher Melanie Dockins prepares for the tag as Hillsboro's Kara Pochon slides into home during the third inning of Saturday's Class 4 District 1 title game. Pochon was safe on the play. (Kristin Eberts)

The Indians also faced Arnold during the Cor Jesu tournament, and they struggled against her then, too. Arnold isn't an overpowering pitcher, which the Indians said hurt them.

"We seem to have a little bit more trouble hitting the slower pitchers than the faster pitchers," Forester said. "She did a great job today. We couldn't step up there and get the big hits."

Jackson ran into serious trouble in the third. The Hawks capitalized on five hits, three errors and one walk to grab a commanding 8-0 lead. The damage could have been worse since they had the bases loaded with one out, but Jackson pitcher Mallory Jones got a line out to shortstop then a pop up to short to escape further damage.

"We've got lots of freshmen and sophomores, and today we kind of played like freshmen and sophomores," Forester said. "We've been playing a little bit better. We just made a few mistakes and sometimes mistakes continue to add up when they have that big inning like they did. We had a few errors, but they had lots of hits, too."

The Indians finished 13-16 but return the majority of their starters. Forester said she hopes her team can benefit down the road from Saturday's game.

Jackson's Lauren Anderson dives back to first after a line out. Hillsboro's Mirissa Massey caught the throw to complete the double play during the fourth inning Saturday in Jackson. (Kristin Eberts)

"For those freshmen and sophomores to get this experience and understand what it's like to play in a district championship and to play at this level and to know where they have to be as they continue to grow, it's definitely a great experience for them," she said.

Jackson 000 0 -- 0 2 4

Hillsboro 026 7 -- 15 16 1

WP -- Rachel Arnold. LP -- Mallory Jones. HR -- Alicia Miller (H). 2B -- R. Arnold (H), Sierra Thompson (H). Multiple hits -- Hillsboro: Thompson 3-4, R. Arnold 2-3, Mirissa Massey 2-2, Kara Pochon 2-4, Miller 2-3, Lauren Arnold 2-3. Records -- Jackson 13-16.,