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Jackson knocks out first place Dexter in conference showdown
DEXTER - The Jackson Indians knocked the Dexter Bearcats out of a first place tie in the SEMO Conference with a 9-7 victory on Wednesday at Dexter's West City Park.
The Bearcats entered the game tied with Notre Dame for first place.
Trailing 7-6, Jackson plated three runs in the top of the seventh inning to pull out the victory.
"Our defense kind of let us down in the decisive seventh inning, that proved to be our downfall," said Dexter head coach Brian Becker. "We didn't do a very good job of sealing the deal in seventh. Jackson has always had a solid program and they're continuing that this year. They play good defense, they put the bat on the ball and they do it with authority."
Josh Lilly was the tough-luck loser, pitching 6 1/3 innings and allowing nine runs (three earned) off seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
All three of the runs he allowed in the seventh inning were unearned.
"The last two outings, Josh has thrown well for us," said Becker. "He deserved a better fate than what he got today. He mixed his pitches well and he did a good job."
Dexter trailed by as much as 6-2 early in the game but came back to take the lead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning off a Cody Boyer single.
The Bearcats had a chance to add to the lead in the inning when they had runners on second and third with one out, but reliever Josh Parham got out of the jam.
Parham retired the side in order in the seventh to get the win.
"The Parham kid came in and slammed the door on us," said Becker. That was a big part of their victory. We had a golden opportunity to pad our lead and he just shut us down. And then in the seventh we had our seven, eight and nine hitters up and he just blew us away. He's a tough lefty. I was proud of how we came back after being down 6-2."
Jackson took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning off a Brad Berry two-run homer.
Dexter (8-3, 4-2 SEMO) tied the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the first but the Indians plated four more runs in the second to lead 6-2.
The Bearcats scored three runs in the fourth inning to trim the lead to 6-5.
Berry led the Indians offensively, going 2-3 with a homer, a double and three RBIs.
Dexter was led by Boyer, who went 3-4 with four RBIs. Kermit Thomley was 3-4 with two runs and Matt Burnett went 1-2 with two runs and an RBI.
Dexter will play Shawnee, Ill., at 3:45 tomorrow in the Red Devil Classic at Chaffee's Harmon Field.
ORAN - The Oran Eagles defeated Advance on Wednesday 3-1 in a big 1A district matchup.
The Eagles (8-1) fell behind 1-0 in the top of the fourth inning but answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead.
Eagle pitcher Trey Graviett overcame early struggles and retired the final nine batters in a row, including seven by strikeout.
He threw all seven innings, allowing one unearned run off three hits and five walks with 13 strikeouts to pick up the win.
Oran tied the game at 1-1 when Tyler Nelson doubled in Tyler Cookson. Matt Bucher then plated Graviett with a single.
Patrick Friga provided some insurance with a suicide squeeze bunt to score Nelson.
Ryne Wood and Nathan Seyer also had a hit each.
Advance lost two runners at the plate earlier in the game. The Hornets had the bases loaded with two outs, but Jason Bahr was caught trying to steal home to end the inning.
In the fourth inning, the Hornets scored their only run off a bases loaded walk. Oran got out of the jam without further damage when centerfielder Joey Bickings caught a flyball and gunned out the runner trying to score from third to end the inning.
Oran will play Senath-Hornersville at 8 p.m. on Friday in the Chaffee Red Devil Classic.
SIKESTON - The Charleston Bluejays swept a doubleheader with Scott County Central on Wednesday with two five-inning victories.
The Bluejays won the first game 23-8 and rolled in the nightcap 13-1.
Charleston was trailing 8-7 to the Braves after three innings in the first game, but the Bluejays scored 15 runs over the next three innings to enforce the 10-run rule.
Nelson French got the win in relief, throwing two scoreless innings. He allowed two hits and he struck out three. Starter Matt Jackson pitched the first three innings for the Bluejays.
Charleston was led by Dustin Smoot, who went 3-3 with two RBIs and three runs. Lezcano Dean, in his first game back from an injury, went 2-4 with two RBIs and two runs. French went 2-3 with three runs and two RBIs.
Charleston pounded out 14 hits in the game. Scott Central pitchers issued six walks and hit seven batters.
In the second game, French picked up the win again, throwing three no-hit innings and allowing just one walk. He struck out five.
Nathan Pullen threw the final 2 innings, allowing one run off two hits with four strikeouts.
Charleston only managed four hits. Dustin McCann provided a two-run double. Pullen, Justin Mercer and freshman Steven Hicks each had one hit. Hicks also had three runs.
Scott Central pitchers again had control problems, hitting eight batters, including three in a row at one point.
Charleston (7-6, 2-1 Scott-Mississippi) will host Puxico today at 4:15 p.m.