Jays step up in clutch

In win against Blue Springs

Ripken Dodson of Jefferson City fights off an inside pitch during Friday's game against Blue Springs in the Capital City Invitational at Vivion Field.
Ripken Dodson of Jefferson City fights off an inside pitch during Friday's game against Blue Springs in the Capital City Invitational at Vivion Field.

For eight innings, Jake Pridgin sat on the bench in the third-base dugout at Vivion Field.

The Jefferson City junior never lost focus, and it showed when he got the opportunity to shine.

With two outs and the game tied in the bottom of the eighth, Pridgin delivered a walk-off single as the Jays overcame a two-run deficit to claim a 5-4 win against Blue Springs in extra innings in the second round of the Capital City Invitational on Friday.

"I was just sitting back on a fastball and just looking to hit it anywhere in play," Pridgin said. "I knew if I put it on the ground, I'd have a chance of beating it out."

The speedy left-handed batter did more than that when he was asked to pinch hit.

With runners on first and second, Pridgin connected with a line drive through the right side of the infield on a 3-1 count and Brenden Ogletree slid under the tag at home to put away the Wildcats, who were one out away from a win in the bottom of the seventh.

"The thing I'm most impressed with is how (Pridgin) was able to sit over there and stay focused - because you never know when you're number is going to get called," Jefferson City coach Brian Ash said. "He goes up there and, bang, comes up with a big hit."

Rylie Klosterman led off the eighth with a double down the right-field line and Blue Springs opted to intentionally walk Ogletree. Jefferson City attempted a sacrifice bunt, but the Wildcats were able to retire the lead runner for the first out of the inning.

In the end, it didn't matter.

"I think it will give us a boost in our season and put us a step in the right direction," said Klosterman, who was 2-for-4 with a RBI.

Jefferson City (8-4) was down to its last out in the bottom of the seventh, but that's when the Jays caught the only break they would need.

Adam Grunden drew a walk, setting up back-to-back hits by Gerrit Shirts and Alex Johnson to load the bases with one out. Blue Springs starting pitcher Jeremy Lufft got a much-needed strikeout, but the Wildcats followed with an error. The Jays scored two runs on the play to tie the game at four and force extra innings.

Jefferson City reliever Blaine Meyer did his part in the top of the eighth, pitching around a hit and a two-out error to set up the Jays' win.

"It feels good that my coaches believe in me (in that situation)," Meyer said. "I'm just really glad to be here and be a part of this team and have a big win like this."

Meyer entered the game with runners on second and third in the top of the fifth with two outs and was lights-out from there.

The sophomore right-hander received the win after allowing four hits and no walks, while striking out two in 32/3 innings, but he wasn't the only hurler to keep the Jays in the game before their bats could heat up.

Hayden Hirschvogel had a successful varsity debut, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks in four inning in a starting role. The freshman retired the first six batters he faced on 12 pitches, before getting tagged for three runs in the top of the fourth.

"I'm super proud of him to come in that kind of a game," Ash said. "I guarantee you, two days ago he probably wasn't thinking he was starting that game against Blue Springs. For him to go out there and compete and do what he did - that's a huge confidence boost."

Jefferson City trailed 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth, but Hayden Strobel and Jackson Walker delivered back-to-back hits with one out. Klosterman followed with an RBI single and Ogletree capped off the inning with an RBI groundout to bring the Jays within one.

Blue Springs plated another run in the top of the fifth to take a 4-2 lead, but that's all the Wildcats would get the rest of the way.

"I definitely feel like this will spark our team and feel like it will bring some extra energy into (today)," Pridgin said.

Ash thinks the win will give the Jays an added spark when they take on Blair Oaks at 11:30 a.m. today at Vivion Field. But he also thinks it will add some competion for playing time.

"I would say it would create two things: It will create a spark, and I also think it created a little bit of a sense of urgency for some guys," Ash said. "We had some younger guys that came up big today. If we've got some guys struggling, then they need to figure it out because we've got some younger guys biting at the bit, ready to go."

III

Jefferson City let one bad inning be the difference maker in its opening game on Friday afternoon.

Lutheran: St. Charles had three hits and took advantage of two errors to plate two runs in the bottom of the sixth and the Cougars went on to claim a 5-3 win against the Jays.

Jefferson City was outhit 7-5, committed four errors and stranded eight baserunners in the loss

Travis Hennessy allowed two earned runs on five hits and three walks in 51/3 innings.

Strobel was 1-for-4 and drove in two runs, while Klosterman was 1-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Jays offensively. Ogletree, Adam Grunden and Johnson each added hits to help pace Jefferson City.