Jefferson City beats Smith-Cotton 10-0 in district baseball semifinals

Jefferson City's Kade Franks crosses the plate during the Jays' 10-0 win Monday against Sedalia Smith-Cotton in the Class 5 District 9 semifinals at Vivion Field.
Jefferson City's Kade Franks crosses the plate during the Jays' 10-0 win Monday against Sedalia Smith-Cotton in the Class 5 District 9 semifinals at Vivion Field.

Jefferson City needed six innings to score against Sedalia Smith-Cotton a year ago. On Monday, the Jays didn't even need that many innings to beat the Tigers.

A six-run second inning broke the game open and Grant Wood tied a school record with his ninth win of the season as Jefferson City (26-2) won 10-0 in five innings in the semifinals of the Class 5 District 9 tournament at Vivion Field.

"These are a little less strenuous on the ole nerves and the heart strings," Jays coach Brian Ash said.

In last year's district semifinal against the Tigers, the Jays scored their lone run in the six inning.

Monday was the third straight district semifinal meeting between the teams, with Jefferson City winning all three and winning the past six matchups overall.

The Jays got a four-hitter from senior JT Bohlken in last year's district semifinals. This year, Wood provided a two-hitter, with the hits coming back-to-back in the fourth inning.

Gavin Jones reached on an infield two-out single and Tyler Abney followed with a double to deep left-center field, but Jones was out trying to score. Center fielder Tyler Bise delivered the ball to shortstop Michael Skinner, who threw a strike to catcher Gaven Strobel for the tag, pumping up the Jays dugout.

"We didn't want to give them any kind of hope," Ash said. " It just kind of sucked the momentum out of their dugout."

The Jays led 7-0 at the time but knew Smith-Cotton had the ability to mount a comeback from last week's 9-6 win against the Tigers. The Jays led 9-1 after two innings in that contest.

But the Tigers couldn't get going against Wood, who allowed three runs in four innings in his last appearance May 6 against Staley. Wood entered Monday's game 8-0 with a 2.31 ERA. He's now 9-0, tying the school record for wins in a season.

"As much as he's won this year on the mound for us, that was by far his best performance," Ash said. "We had a plan on how to attack each hitter and he couldn't have followed it better."

The Jays had options for who to put on the mound Monday. Joseph Travis has five wins with a 2.56 ERA while Brandon Williams is 3-1 with a 2.88 ERA.

"There was a lot of indecisiveness between the staff," Ash said. "That's one thing I appreciate my coaches about is they are honest. We all felt that Grant can win, but we've just got to make sure he's sharp. And it's not necessarily could he do it on the mound, you hate to take such a caliber player in a very important position defensively out. That just shows you we that we had a lot of confidence in Michael (Skinner)."

Skinner has mainly been used to play second base this season, but helped save a run in the fifth as the cutoff man and was error-free Monday.

"Not a ton of short, but as far as defensively and glove work, he's just as good," Ash said. "He just doesn't have the range or the arm strength, but boy he showed it off throwing a dart to home plate today."

That play at the plate followed a six-run inning for the Jays. Eight batters reached base and five runs score before the first out in the third.

Kade Franks reached on a fielder's choice with the bases loaded, scoring Payton Bodenstab as the catcher dropped the throw home. Gunnar See and Williams each singled in a run, courtesy runner Reece Neighbors crossed the plate on a wild pitch, See scored when Tyler Bise was hit by a pitch and Hirschvogel scored on Bodenstab's groundout.

"For the most part we've got guys that hit doubles and we've got guys that hit line drives and hard ground balls, and that's what we want,"Ash said.

Abney started for Smith-Cotton, allowing four runs in two innings. Baxter Mays gave up five runs in 11/3 innings with Tristen Jackson giving up a run in 11/3 innings.

Bodenstab, Wood, See and Williams each had two hits. Williams, the No. 7 batter, added a second and third RBI in the fourth with a single to left, making it 9-0. Batters 6-9 combined to go 6-for-12 with five RBI. The top of the lineup finished a combined 5-for-16 with two RBI.

"If we get that bottom group going along with everybody else, we'll be a tough out," Ash said.

The Jays will play Hickman for the third time this season at 6 p.m. today in the district championship game at Vivion Field. The Kewpies defeated Rock Bridge 6-2 in Monday's semifinal game. The Jays have beaten Hickman twice this season, 4-1 on April 7 in the Capital City Invitational and 6-4 on April 10.

Jacob Weirich, who is 7-0 with a 0.57 ERA, will get the start for the Jays. He allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits and six walked with six strikeouts in the April 10 matchup, earning the win.

"We've got our guy on the mound and may the best team win," Ash said.