The Jefferson R7 Blue Jays strung together their third win in a row on Monday of this week as they dismantled Bayless 15-4. The Boys Varsity squad ran, hit and pitched their way to a 3-1 record and were riding high, but their game the following day took the wind out of their sails a bit. They hosted a tough Woodland team and couldn’t pull out the fourth consecutive victory, falling 7-3 and dropping to 3-2 on the young season.
Monday’s tilt against Bayless was something to behold. The Jays started fast and furious with five runs in the first and then two more in the second to jump out to an early 7-1 lead. They weren’t close to finished though as they ripped off six more in the third before adding an additional tally in the fourth and fifth frames to trigger the mercy rule after five innings. The 15-4 win bumped them to 3-1 on the season and marked their third consecutive W.
Colton Richardson was the offensive story in this one as he went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, drove in two, scored four runs and stole five bases. Yes, that wasn’t a typo. He stole FIVE bases. Sam Stokes had an impressive effort as well, and deuces were wild for the hard-hitting third baseman, as he went 2-for-2 with two runs, two RBI and two steals.
On the mound, Max Schnitzler got the start going three innings and allowing just one earned run on five hits without allowing a walk. Stokes came on in relief and fired two perfect innings while fanning three to close out the game.
Head Coach Robert Kuehnle commented on his boys’ efforts, saying, “I think that we played well. We had a few defensive hiccups but some great offensive performances. Max Schnitzler did what he needed to do on the mound to get the job done and Sam Stokes did a great job closing it down. Colton Richardson had a day going 4 for 4 with 5 stolen bases and a double. Sam Stokes went 2 for 2, and anytime you can put up 15 runs it’s a good day.”
The wins were starting to come with regularity, but Woodland threw a wrench in the gears just a day later as they stuck it to the Blue Jays. The game ramped off with Woodland collecting a pair of runs in the first and one in the third to go up 3-0. Jefferson answered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the third, but Woodland stormed back with three more in the fourth to break the game open.
They tacked on another in the seventh to take a 7-1 lead, but the Blue Jays still had some fight left in them. Schnitzler and Jack Hueter had back-to-back two-out RBI singles, but the comeback fell short and the Jays lost 7-3, dropping to 3-2 on the season.
Hueter led the the way offensively with a pair of singles and RBIs in four at-bats. Also collecting multiple hits were Schnitzler and Garret Lalumondier, who each had a pair. In fact those three were responsible for all six Blue Jay hits in the contest.
Cole Robinson got the start on the bump, but was touched up for six runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks over four innings. Hueter came on in relief and held Woodland to just one run on two hits and a walk, while striking out two over three innings.
It’s never fun when a winning streak ends, but it is, however, the perfect opportunity to start a new one. The Blue Jays will look to get back to their winning ways this weekend when they participate in the Wood Bat Classic. Games will be on Friday and Saturday afternoons.
