Jays battle their way to 13-10 victory against Rolla

Dawson Schuemann of Jefferson City watches his double during Wednesday's game against the Rolla Bulldogs at Vivion Field.
Dawson Schuemann of Jefferson City watches his double during Wednesday's game against the Rolla Bulldogs at Vivion Field.

Something was off at Wednesday's game between Jefferson City and Rolla, and it wasn't just the newly-installed scoreboard at Vivion Field.

"It was one of the most odd games I've ever been a part of," Jefferson City coach Brian Ash said after a 13-10 win against the Bulldogs. "We knew they were a good hitting team, but it seemed like every ball they did hit was an absolute rocket.

"I thought that we hit the ball hard, too. We pulled out the small ball game, stealing, running, bunting. They are making errors. Our all-state center fielder makes two errors. It was just an odd game. Pitchers struggled to get ahead of hitters and when they did they are getting hit hard."

Despite the cold and blustery conditions, batters roped the ball into deep sections of the outfield numerous times. Even balls hit in the infield were difficult to handle.

With runners on the corners in the fourth inning, Rolla's Noah Doyle smacked a hard grounder that hopped off the second baseman, tying the game at 9. It capped a six-run comeback after Jefferson City led 9-3 an inning into the game.

It didn't take long for Jefferson City (14-5) to take the lead back, and for good.

Payton Bodenstab led off the bottom of the fourth with a single and later scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.

Blake Terry added some insurance, sending a fly ball to right field to score Jack Shinkle and Mason Hansen for a 12-9 lead.

Terry also bunted with two on and one out in the first, reaching safely as the throw went wide and bounced off the first baseman's glove to allow Joseph Travis to score from second base for a 5-3 lead.

"Blake's come through with some pretty clutch hits for us this year," Ash said.

Jays catcher Cole Gresham saved a run in the sixth, catching a runner stealing third with an out and another runner at first base.

A walk and a single by Joel Simmons followed to get Rolla (11-3-1, ranked No. 6 in Class 5) within 12-10.

Then the offense added more cushion in the sixth as Travis launched a deep fly ball to left field to drive in Hansen for the final run of the game.

"I don't think there were enough runs we could have scored to say it was enough insurance," Ash said.

But it ended up being more than enough as Landon Dunlap pitched around a leadoff walk in the sixth and a leadoff single in the seventh thanks to a game-ending 5-4-3 double play.

Dunlap got three Rolla batters to fly out to right field and got an out on a 6-4 fielder's choice to go with the double play.

"I thought he did a great job of coming in and getting ahead of hitters," Ash said. "He's got enough movement on his pitches that he's harder to square up."

Cade Galbraith was also effective in relief, allowing a run and a hit while walking two and striking out two in 1 innings.

"His breaking ball wasn't there with the cold weather, but he willed himself," Ash said. "He threw strikes and we finally got enough outs before they scored enough runs."

Rolla got on the board first with three in the first. The Bulldogs scored at least one run in each of the first five innings.

Zeke Arthur and Will Bolyard each had three RBI.

"They can absolutely swing it," Ash said. "They are big, strong and athletic kids."

Rolla didn't lead long as the Jays scored nine in the bottom of the first with Shinkle's bases-clearing double to the center-field fence getting the scoring started.

"That ball was blistered," Ash said. "It was good to see him come through. He's struggled a little bit at times recently."

Shinkle was one of eight Jays to record a hit.

Michael Skinner, Bodenstab and Dawson Schuemann each had two hits. Skinner and Schuemann each drove in a run in the first inning.

"I was equally as impressed the way we swung it, too," Ash said. "Our execution offensively was pretty sharp for the most part today."

Jefferson City will head to Lawrence, Kan. for three games in the River City Festival.

The Jays will face Blue Springs at 6 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, they'll play Blue Valley Northwest at 9 a.m. and Shawnee Mission East at 1:30 p.m.

Jefferson City defeated Rolla 12-1 in the JV game.

Trevin White pitched all five innings, allowing one run, three hits with a walk and seven strikeouts.

Brenden Hoener had a triple and two RBI. Garett Butel and Joe Hoerchler each recorded two hits and two RBI. Christian Fernandez added a hit and two RBI and Dawson Schulte finished with a pair of hits and an RBI.