Losing is never fun, especially when it's by double-digit runs. But Jefferson City's 14-1 loss to Eureka on Friday night at Vivion Field set up another crosstown showdown in the Capital City Invitational.
Both Helias and Jefferson City had less than stellar performances in pool play to make the matchup possible. The Crusaders opened the day with a 13-0 loss in six innings to Hickman at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex.
"(Helias coach) Chris (Wyrick) and I, we both have bad tastes in our mouth," Jays coach Brian Ash said. "I'm sure he's not happy with that performance as I'm not with this one. We'll create our own atmosphere for sure. It'll be a fun one."
The Jays and Crusaders met in the championship game of the Invitational last season, with Helias winning 11-7. This time, the two will play in the third-place game at 11 a.m. today at Vivion Field.
Jefferson City split Friday's pool play action, defeating Blair Oaks 5-1 in the first game of the day.
Down 1-0 in the fifth, Jefferson City scored all five of its runs in the inning.
"That was nice," Ash said. "It's difficult to stay focused with the conditions and everything else. That's part of that mental toughness we try to instill. We were able to find a way to get a win."
Michael Skinner led off the inning with a double to left field and later scored when Tucker Schwartz reached on an error on a bunt.
"We're always preaching moving 90 feet," Ash said.
A walk loaded the bases and Jack Shinkle sent a liner to right field to score two more. A Mason Hansen line-drive single and an infield single from Joseph Travis each added a run.
Shinkle picked up the win on the mound, allowing one run on two hits and three walks with eight strikeouts. All three walks came in the fourth, including one with the bases loaded to score Bryce Kempker.
Shinkle struck out the side in order in the second and retired the side again in the third.
"That's been our biggest challenge, just our consistency from our pitchers," Ash said. "When things are going good, things are good. But when there's a little adversity where we fall behind and got runners on, it seems like it kind of snowballs."
Travis took the loss against Eureka, giving up four runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts.
"I thought he threw pretty well," Ash said. "On these cold days it is hard to get the grip and feel for the ball, especially on your breaking ball."
The Jays' lone run came in the third when Blake Terry led off with a walk, advanced to second on a passed ball, went to third on Schwartz's infield single and scored on an error.
Nick Heine threw 6 innings for the Wildcats, striking out eight while allowing just the one unearned run and three hits with three walks.
"We didn't threaten much at all," Ash said. "That just shows you right here, fastball command, breaking ball command, changeup command. He had three pitches that he could command and he threw it in any count."
Eureka collected 16 hits against the Jays, including nine in the nine-run seventh.
Tom Burke crushed a two-run home run to left-center field in the inning.
Eureka will take on Hickman in the championship game at 1:15 p.m. today at Vivion Field.