State-ranked Howell sweeps Central

The Central baseball team couldn't withstand a seventh-inning, two-out comeback and lost 10-8 to state-ranked Francis Howell in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday.

Central's Brad LaBruyere pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up three earned runs on five hits before being relieved by losing pitcher Tyrone Reece. Reece gave up the game-winning, two-run home run on his first pitch.

Scott Brueckner led the Tigers with three hits, while Zac Hudson, Ty Craft and Tony Leuckel had two apiece.

In the second game, Francis Howell, which is ranked third in the state with an 8-1 record, scored nine runs over the last three innings to envoke the mercy rule in a 15-5 pounding.

Matt Hester went 2-for-3 for Central (4-8), with a triple and a double.

(Game 1)

FRANCIS HOWELL 10, CENTRAL8

Howell 010 060 3 -- 10 7 2

Central 300 005 0 -- 8 10 4

WP -- Corcoran. LP -- Tyrone Reece, 0-3. HR -- Sargent (F). 3B -- Tony Leuckel (C). 2B -- Brandon Cooper (C), Ty Craft (C), Boehringer (F). Multiple hits -- Central, Zac Hudson 2-4, Craft 2-2, Scott Brueckner 3-4, Leuckel 2-4; Francis Howell, Boehringer 2-3. Records -- Central 4-7, Francis Howell 7-1.

(Game 2)

FRANCIS HOWELL 15, CENTRAL 5, 6 INNINGS

Howell 131 531 -- 15 13 3

Central 022 010 -- 5 5 6

WP -- Jamie Street. LP -- Tyrone Reece, 0-4. 3B -- Matt Hester (C), Tyler Bruce (C). 2B -- Hester (C). Multiple hits -- Central, Hester 2-3; Francis Howell, Avants 4-5, Street 3-5, Hopkins 3-4. Records -- Central 4-8, Francis Howell 8-1.

Fort Zumwalt South 7, Jackson 0, 8 innings

Jackson and Fort Zumwalt South were scoreless through seven innings, but the visitor scored seven runs in the eighth with two outs to hand Jackson its first loss of the season.

Losing pitcher Jason Meystedt held Fort Zumwalt South to only three hits for the first 7 2/3 innings before allowing four earned runs in the eighth with two outs. Kyle Brown relieved Meystedt with two outs in the eighth and allowed three more earned runs.

"The wheels just kind of fell off," said Jackson coach Rex Crosnoe. "Jason threw real well, and up until that last inning it was a pitchers duel.

"We had a couple good opportunities with runners in scoring position and didn't get them in. It was a pretty good defensive game, as well."

Derrick Biri had two hits for the Indians (6-1).

Jackson 000 000 00 -- 0 5 2

WP -- Thomason. LP -- Jason Meystedt, 1-1. HR -- Shockley (Z). 2B -- Aldridge (Z), Macke (Z), Shockley (Z), Meystedt (J). Multiple hits -- Jackson, Derrick Biri 2-3; Zumwalt, Wear 2-4, Aldridge 2-4, Shockley 2-4. Records -- Jackson 6-1.

JV -- Ft. Zumwalt South 13, Jackson 0

Saxony Lutheran 10-7, Christ Our Savior 6-6

Saxony Lutheran swept a doubleheader on the road against Christ Our Savior Lutheran of Evansville, Ill.

The games were played in Chester, Ill.

In the first game, Dustin Roth, Alex Jauch and John Volkerding had three hits apiece for Saxony.

Ben Courtois earned the pitching win.

The Crusaders (4-1) then held off a seventh-inning rally by Christ our Savior to win the nightcap.

With a 7-3 lead and the bases loaded with two outs in the seventh, Volkerding relieved winning pitcher Peter Winningham. Volkerding gave up a three-run triple before earning the last out.

Casey Petzoldt went 4-for-4 at the plate for Saxony, while Winningham had three hits and Roth added two.

(Game 1)

SAXONY LUTHERAN 10, CHRIST OUR SAVIOR 6

Saxony 113 202 1 -- 10 11 3

COS 002 000 4 -- 6 5 2

WP -- Ben Courtois. LP -- Zobel. HR -- Mehring (C). 3B -- Alex Jauch (S), Peter Winningham (S), Mayer (C). Multiple hits -- Saxony, Dustin Roth 2-3, Jauch 2-4, John Volkerding 2-4; Christ Our Savior, Schafner 2-4. Records -- Saxony, 3-1.

(Game 2)

SAXONY LUTHERAN 7, CHRIST OUR SAVIOR 6

Saxony 200 120 2 -- 7 7 1

COS 101 000 4 -- 6 12 0

WP -- Peter Winningham. LP -- Richardson. HR -- Mehring (C). 2B -- Alex Jauch (S), Kory Mueller (S), Casey Petzoldt 2 (S), John Volkerding (S). Multiple hits -- Saxony, Dustin Roth 2-4, Winningham 3-4, Petzoldt 4-4; Christ our Savior, Richardson 2-4, Mayer 3-4, Schafner 2-4. Records -- Saxony, 4-1.