Walk-off loss puts Jackson Legion in a tough position

The Festus Post 253 Senior American Legion baseball team might not be as powerful this year as in some recent seasons.

But the tradition-rich squad can never be counted out.

Festus once again made that crystal clear Thursday, stunning host Jackson with a two-run ninth-inning rally to win 5-4 in a winners bracket semifinal of the zone 4 tournament.

"It was a great team win," Festus coach Zac Bone said.

Festus (23-8) advances to play Eureka at 2 p.m. today at Whitey Herzog Stadium in the all-important winners bracket final of the five-team, double-elimination event.

Jackson (39-8), which earlier in the day captured a 4-3, 13-inning thriller against Dunklin County, falls into the losers bracket. It will play an elimination game at 5 p.m. today.

"You can't worry about winning four games," said Jackson coach Mark Lewis of the task that now faces Jackson as it seeks the zone title. "You just have to win one and go from there."

Festus (23-8), which returned only three players from last year's squad that had its string of three straight state championships snapped, still managed to capture its sixth consecutive District 13 tournament title this summer.

Bone's youthful group, playing its first game in the zone meet, battled Jackson's experienced club tooth and nail in an exciting, well-played matchup.

"It was a really good American Legion baseball game," Bone said. "Well pitched, good defense on both sides."

Jackson, which trailed 3-1 after five innings, forged a 3-3 tie in the top of the sixth and went ahead 4-3 in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Cody Harris.

That's the way things stood until the bottom of the ninth as darkness began to fall on Herzog Stadium, which has no lights.

Jackson’s Kelby Brown heads for home to score during Post 158’s loss to Festus in Thursday’s late game.

Jeremy Brown led off the ninth with a double down the left-field line against Jackson reliever Avery Whiteside, who had retired five straight batters after relieving Cody Heisserer with one out in the seventh.

Chase Gemberling tied the contest with an RBI single through the left side. Gemberling took second on Jackson's only error of the game, a throw back to the infield that got away.

Brock Boeckstiegel sacrificed Gemberling to third.

ADAM VOGLER ~ avogler@semissourian.comJackson Post 158 Senior American Legion pitcher CodyHeisserer throws a strike during Post 158's 5-4 loss to Festus Post 253 in the Zone 4 tournament Thursday, July 25, at Whitey Herzog Stadium in Jackson, Mo.

Kelby Brown, the winning pitcher with 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief earlier in the day against Dunklin County, came on to replace Whiteside.

Andrew Hayden greeted Brown with a shot well over Jackson right fielder Steven Porzelt's head for a walk-off RBI single as Gemberling trotted home.

"You tell the kids, 'Just keep grinding it out,'" Bone said. "A lot of guts by our kids in the ninth inning. A great job of just continuing to play."

Bone had special praise for Hayden, who will be a junior in high school. He doubled during Festus' three-run fifth inning.

"I thought Andrew had the best day at the plate of anybody," Bone said.

Jackson broke on top with an unearned run in the third inning. The way Heisserer started out, it looked like Post 158 might not need much more.

Festus was held without a hit through four innings before Post 253 broke through in the fifth with three runs on four hits.

Brown led off with a triple and Gemberling followed with an RBI triple.

Boeckstiegel drove in a run with a ground out, followed by Hayden's double and an RBI single by Robert Brewer, also entering his junior year of high school.

"The Heisserer kid was just phenomenal. If not the best arm we've faced this year, he's one of the best," Bone said. "We were finally able to get to him in the fifth inning."

But Festus had only one more hit until the ninth.

Meanwhile, Jackson tied it with a two-run sixth on just one hit. Two walks and a two-out wild pitch preceded Lane Thompson's two-RBI single.

Harris' sacrifice fly in the seventh, which scored Porzelt after he led off by being hit by a pitch, put Jackson up 4-3 before Festus had the final say.

"I thought Festus buckled down when it came down to it," Jackson's Chase Simmons said. "They fought back. ... Tip your cap."

Jackson had only five hits, three by Laban Petzoldt.

Heisserer allowed three runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out six, walked three and hit two.

Whiteside was tagged with the loss, giving up two runs and two hits in two innings. He struck out two.

Brown, Gemberling and Hayden all had two of Post 253's eight hits. Festus also committed only one error.

Starter Brady Womacks gave up four runs, three earned, and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out five, walked four and hit one.

Aaron Fuller was the winner with 2 2/3 innings of no-hit, shutout relief. He fanned one, walked one and hit one.

"Both teams pitched well, played good defense. ... You can't fault anything," Lewis said. "It was like our first game [against Dunklin County], nip and tuck. Win a tight one, lose a tight one. You're on both ends of the spectrum."

While Jackson faces a monumental challenge as it chases the zone title, needing four straight wins. Post 158 is not giving up hope.

"We just have to take it one game at a time," Simmons said. "It's a grind. ... Grind it out."