The Jackson Indians made some more noise this week following up their SEMO Conference Championship title. On Tuesday they blasted the Poplar Bluff Mules 14-5 ,and then continued that with a solid 6-2 victory over the Triad Knights from across the river.
A couple of individual players had some banner days as well. Catcher Baden Hackworth broke the Jackson single-season record for doubles and RBI, and is now just one shy of tying the home run record as well. Not to be outdone, dual threat Caden Bogenpohl powered the Tribe to a win with his bat, while also pitching a complete game, 14-strikeout gem.
The week began with the win over Kennett to claim the SEMO Championship, but the most convincing win was Tuesday’s affair with Poplar Bluff. The Mules struck first to go up 1-0 in the bottom of the initial frame, but Jackson roared back with seven runs in the top of the second.
Hackworth tied the game with a solo blast to center, and then in the same inning, drove in two more with a double to give Jackson a 7-1 advantage. Bluff answered with three in the third, but the effort was futile. The Indians tacked on three more in the sixth and seventh innings to put this one to bed.
Everybody got in on the fun in this one, but Hackworth shined with his record-setting game. He finished the contest 2-for-3 with a homer and five RBI. Jack Wyatt had a great day at the plate as well, going 3-for-4 and driving in a pair. The Indians as a team collected 12 hits and 10 walks, while stealing 10 bases. Six different players drove in runs.
On the mound Jaiden Glency got the start and the win, but was touched for four runs in just two innings (only two were earned though). Thankfully, Kaden Kendle came on in relief and finished all five remaining innings. He allowed just one run on two hits and stuck out seven for the super save.
That win made it seven in row for Jackson and set up a road match with the Knights from Triad High School. Good thing it was Bogenpohl’s night, because he took over in this one, starting with an RBI double in the third to give his club a 1-0 lead.
Triad answered with a lone tally in the fourth, but Jackson jumped back on top in the fifth when Quinton Borders knocked in two with a bases-loaded single for a 3-1 lead. Then a Landon Watkins RBI single brought home a run in the sixth before Steven Schneider and Watkins struck again in the seventh. They both ripped base hits to score a run and the Tribe emerged with a 6-2 victory.
That was only possible though due to the efforts of Bogenpohl on the mound. He pitched all seven innings, and allowed just two runs on six hits and a pair of walks while striking out an improbable 14 batters. The win made him 7-0 on the season and gave him 74 Ks in just 43 innings pitched.
Watkins was the hit leader in this one, going 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI, but Bogenpohl, Borders and Schneider each had two hits apiece to round out the collective nine total hits for Jackson.
That win made it eight in a row, and now the Indians will have a couple days to prepare for a tilt against the always tough DeSmet Spartans on Saturday at home. There are just four games left before the District Tournament.
