OZARK - The Jefferson City Jays are going to the Class 5 baseball Final Four.
The Jays jumped out to a 4-0 lead after three innings Thursday on their way to a 9-1 victory against the Nixa Eagles in a quarterfinal contest.
The Jays had been knocking hard on the postseason door in recent seasons, now they're making the trip next week to O'Fallon.
"I think the difference really is a year of experience and the motivation factor of being close the previous two seasons and falling short," Jays coach Brian Ash said. "Just a determined group of players."
Jefferson City (27-6) will face Lindbergh (22-9) in the semifinals at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
The Jays got on the board with a run in the second. Gaven Strobel was hit by a pitch to start the inning and courtesy runner Cole Ahrens moved to second when Kade Franks reached on an error. Brandon Williams was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Tyler Bise hit a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0.
Jefferson City added three in the third after two outs. Strobel and Franks hit back-to-back doubles to key the inning.
Nixa cut the deficit to 4-1 with a run in the top of the fourth. But Jefferson City answered with two in the bottom of the inning.
Blaine Meyer drew a walk, moved to second on a JT Bohlken single before scoring on a single by Grant Wood. Strobel was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Franks singled to make it 6-1.
The Jays closed the scoring with three runs in the fifth as the first six hitters reached base. A walk to Bise, a single by Hayden Hirschvogel and a walk to Meyer loaded the bases. Jacob Weirich then walked to bring home Bise, then Bohlken walked to score Hirschvogel. Wood singled to bring home the final run of the game.
Wood, Strobel and Franks all had two RBI for the Jays. Wood and Franks had two hits each in a nine-hit Jefferson City attack. The Jays also walked eight times.
Weirich went the distance to get the win, scattering five hits and four walks while recording seven strikeouts.
Lindbergh advanced to the semifinals with an 11-2 win Thursday against St. Louis University High.