Jackson fends off Bluff in Legion elimination game

A day after the Jackson Senior American Legion Post 158's attempt to rally from a big early deficit failed, the team had to overcome its opponent's rally Saturday to avoid elimination in the District 14 tournament at Notre Dame Regional High School.

After building a six-run lead after three innings, Post 158 defeated Poplar Bluff 9-8 to advance to the losers bracket semifinal and eliminate Poplar Bluff.

"We lost a tough game 8-7, so to come back and get a tough game 9-8, now you just go," Jackson coach Mark Lewis said. "You don't know what's going to happen, but somebody's going to come out of the losers bracket."

Kendall Fay, who was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and three runs scored in the game, doubled off Poplar Bluff reliever Quinten Stevens to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning.

He came around to score the winning run on a fielder's choice.

Jackson's Kendall Fay fields a ground ball as teammate Jake Conklin readies for the play at first Saturday, July 17, 2010 during their game against Poplar Bluff at Notre Dame Regional High School. (Laura Simon)

"I'm just up there looking for a pitch I can hit, something I can drive," Fay said. "I got lucky and got it in the gap out there and got a double, and my teammates did the rest. They got me in."

Jackson starter Mason Sander surrendered two runs in the top of the first inning, but his team responded with five runs of its own off Poplar Bluff starter Cody Stause.

"I thought it was big to really just kind of set the tone and get ourselves back where you can relax," Lewis said of the first inning comeback. "A lot of times in tournament games you put pressure on yourself that's not there that you think is there."

Jackson added three runs in the third to build an 8-2 cushion with the aid of two Poplar Bluff errors.

Then, according to Fay, Post 158 relaxed too soon.

Jackson's pitcher Mason Sander winds up Saturday, July 17, 2010 during Post 158's game against Poplar Bluff at Notre Dame Regional High School. (Laura Simon)

"We just kind of stopped playing," he said. "We just kind of relaxed and kind of took things for granted. In that spot, we just need to keep going, keep hitting the ball like we were, keep seeing it like we were, not let up like that."

Lewis gave credit to Stause.

"I thought their pitcher was struggling early, but boy he settled down and threw real well," Lewis said. "That gave them a chance to get back in the ballgame, and they did."

Poplar Bluff struck for three runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. Sawyer Smith, who was 3 for 5 on the day, provided RBIs in both innings. He hit a two-run homer in the fifth and added an RBI single in the sixth to tie the game 8-8.

No Poplar Bluff runner reached base after the sixth. Chad Scroggins took over on the mound for Post 158 and retired all nine batters he faced.

"The best thing I can say about Chad Scroggins on the mound is he's a pitcher," Lewis said. "He pitches. He doesn't just throw. He works the counts, he knows what he's doing out there. He's one of my only guys who calls his own game."

Post 158 advanced to face Sikeston later Saturday evening knowing that any loss would mean the end of its season.

"That's what we've got to do," Fay said. "Whatever we can to win right now."

Saturday night's game ended too late to be included. Check semoball.com for a full recap of Saturday's late game.