Jays fall to Francis Howell in Class 5 title game

Jays second baseman Garrett Durbin throws to first base to record an out in Friday afternoon's Class 5 championship game against Francis Howell in O'Fallon.
Jays second baseman Garrett Durbin throws to first base to record an out in Friday afternoon's Class 5 championship game against Francis Howell in O'Fallon.

O'FALLON, Mo. - In the bottom half of the late innings Friday in the Class 5 title game at CarShield Field, Jefferson City senior Blaine Meyer could only watch as the Jays continued to strand baserunners against the Francis Howell Vikings.

The Jays were down 4-0 after three and 8-0 after the top of the sixth. At that point, the Jays had left eight runners on base.

They scratched two runs across in the bottom of the sixth, but left runners on the corners and one at second in the seventh to lose 8-2, finishing with a program-best 28-7 record.

Meyer looked on from the dugout steps, trying to hold back the tears. He accepted his second-place medal and the second-place plaque with his emotions in clear view.

"Blaine, he's very emotional," Jays coach Brian Ash said. "He plays with his heart on his sleeve and he took it hard."

Meyer went 2-for-3 from the No. 9 spot, being stranded at first in the second inning and at third in the sixth inning.

"I don't know how many runners we left on base, but we left a lot," Ash said. "We had the opportunity to strike first and we didn't."

In all, the Jays stranded 11 baserunners, including five in scoring position.

Jacob Weirich led off the bottom of the first with a single. JT Bohlken then jolted a line drive toward Vikings third baseman Trevor Rhodes, who snagged it for the first out.

Francis Howell pitcher Justin Perkins followed that up with a strikeout, but Gaven Strobel hit a grounder to right field to put runners at first and second.

However, a flyout to center field kept the Jays from striking first.

"We hit the ball hard," Ash said. "We hit it right at them. The difference of the game was a couple inches, a couple pitches here and there that leaked across the plate and they put good swings on it with runners on."

Bohlken retired eight of the first nine Viking batters before a two-out rally put the Jays in the same hole they were in during Thursday's semifinal game against Lindbergh, a 4-0 deficit.

A hit by pitch, a bunt single and a walk loaded the bases for Luke Kahle, who sent an 0-2 pitch screaming to right field for a two-run single.

A single up the middle and a double down the left-field line each plated a run for the Vikings.

Bohlken tried to answer with his bat, smacking a fly ball to deep right field, only for it to be run down by Kyle Grantham near the wall.

"They made some really good defensive plays," Ash said. "We tried to put a little pressure on. We had Blaine bunt there a little bit, trying to get the guy in motion and they made a mistake, but when you're starting to play catch up, once we got down 4-0, it's a little more difficult to do those things."

The Meyer bunt single came with two outs the inning before, putting runners on the corners before a strikeout looking ended the inning.

After falling into a 4-0 hole, the Jays needed more than bunts.

They got runners at first and second with two outs in the fifth after Grant Wood walked and Srobel singled up the middle, but a flyout kept a zero on the board for Jefferson City.

Then the flood gates opened as a triple, two doubles, two singles, a walk and a sacrifice fly made it 8-0 Vikings after six.

The Jays matched Francis Howell's nine hits. Strobel, Bise and Meyer each had two hits while Weirich, Logan Schmitz and Bryce Beckley each had one.

"It's still good to have nine hits against a very high powered offense in Francis Howell, to kind of go hit for hit with them," Ash said. "The key is they got the hits when they had runners on."

Bohlken went 51/3 innings on the mound, allowing seven runs on seven hits. He struck out five and walked two.

Meyer pitched two-thirds of an inning of relief, giving up a run on two hits and a walk.

Hayden Hirschvogel only allowed one Viking to reach base on an error in the seventh.

Perkins got the win for Francis Howell, allowing two runs on seven hits. He struck out seven and walked four.

The Vikings entered the game with plenty of Final Four experience, taking second in 2014 and winning the title in 2013.

It was the Jays' first Final Four trip since 1992, with their last title coming in 1989.

Heading into next season, the Jays will have more postseason experience than just district title games. Six of Friday's starters will return next season.

"We're excited for that," Ash said. "I think experience, this, I think will only help them. Hopefully it will motivate some of them. District championship, as big as it is, it's nowhere near the stage of this."