New coach, same Jackson baseball in 2023

Having won at least 20 games in eight of the previous nine baseball seasons, the level of expectations for Jackson High School to continue that trajectory was high for first-year Indian coach Josh Roach entering this spring.

Jackson – or Roach – has not disappointed. The Indians won their 21st game on Saturday by beating Notre Dame 3-2 in the semifinals of the SEMO Conference Tournament at Cape Central High School.

The Class 6 No. 8-ranked Indians (21-6) will go for win number 22 on Monday at Capaha Field against Class 4 No. 2-ranked Kennett (16-7) at 5:45 p.m.

“Jackson baseball has a tradition of being a very high level of a program,” Roach said. “That was the goal for me and the (assistant) coaches to continue that.”

Roach knew what he was getting himself into when he took the position.

He had run the Sandlot Legends Camps in Jackson for the past seven years and spent four years coaching the Indians' softball team, three of which he served as head coach.

Roach had also served as the head coach of the Tribe developmental program for four years and spent five years as an assistant on the Indians' varsity baseball team.

With a dozen seniors on this spring’s roster, including a pair of NCAA Division I signees (Caden Bogenpohl, Missouri State; and Baden Hackworth, Saint Louis), Roach had a pretty good idea that this season could be a good one.

“We have a great group of young men, who have been playing together for a long time,” Roach said. “You can see that on the field. They have a tremendous amount of chemistry, and they love each other.

“We are like a big family. It is just a lot of fun to be around.”

Entering today’s game, Jackson has won five consecutive games, and none of its six defeats have come against a team from Southeast Missouri.

The Indians recently beat Kennett 8-4 in Jackson.

In that game, Jackson jumped out to a 4-0 lead by the second inning off of Kennett junior starter Peyton Branum, but Kennett rallied to trim its deficit to 4-3 by the fourth inning, before Jackson added four runs in the fourth, and fifth innings, combined to seal the win.

Jackson seniors Henley Parker and Jackson Wyatt each had a pair of hits in the victory, while Bogenpohl threw six innings of four-hit baseball, while striking out 11 hitters, to earn the win.

“Everyone loves (Coach Roach),” Indian senior third baseman Quinton Borders said. “It’s been great. I think everyone has had fun.”

Roach added experienced coaches as assistants in former Kelly head coach Jeremy Smith, as well as former San Francisco Giant draftee, Jason Chavez, who will also serve as the pitching coach for the Cape Catfish this summer.

“We are blessed,” Roach said of his staff. “Coach Smith has a ton of experience as a head coach. He has helped me quite a bit, and Coach Chavez, as well.

“We are blessed with guys who know the game.”