Jays to play Hickman for CCI championship

Justin Wood of the Jefferson City Jays keeps an eye on his pitch to Eureka's Josh Alexander during Friday's game in the Capital City Invitational at Vivion Field.
Justin Wood of the Jefferson City Jays keeps an eye on his pitch to Eureka's Josh Alexander during Friday's game in the Capital City Invitational at Vivion Field.

The Jefferson City Jays didn't play as crisp as they'd like to Friday, but they prevailed in extra innings in two games and used a dominant pitching performance in another to advance to the Capital City Invitational championship game.

"Execution at times wasn't the greatest but we had guys step up," Jays coach Kyle Lasley said following a 1-0 win against Eureka at Vivion Field. "We hit a lot of balls hard today. We had bunt situations, we had runners in scoring position and at other times we had a runner at first with nobody out and we had a hard time moving them over.

"It's something we talk about a lot in practice with situations and we've just got to get better at it."

The Jays began pool play with a 6-2 win in eight innings against Lutheran: St. Charles. The second victory placed them into today's championship game against Hickman. Game time is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. at Vivion Field.

Jefferson City's last pool game against the Fatima Comets ended with the Jays winning 13-9 in eight innings.

The Kewpies defeated Russellville 8-2, Helias 4-0 and Blair Oaks 10-4 at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex to finish pool play 3-0.

The Kewpies already defeated the Jays this season, a 13-0 decision in five innings last month at Vivion.

Pitching and defense made the difference in Jefferson City's fist two pool play games.

Justin Wood retired Eureka in order five times in the shutout.

"He commanded the strike zone," Lasley said. "He was in complete control of that game."

Wood only surrendered two hits and struck out eight with no walks.

"He really didn't try to throw around guys," Lasley said. "He attacked them and went after them. He got his curveball working towards the end and was spotting up with his fastballs."

Against the Lutheran: St. Charles Cougars, Jack Shinkle didn't allow a hit in five innings on the mound. He finished with seven strikeouts, four walks and a hit batter in 96 pitches.

"He kind of loosened up and started gaining some momentum," Lasley said. "He's a guy that just has to consistently be a strike thrower for us. He found it late. He started getting his curveball over for strikes, keeping them off-balance."

Joe Hoerchler gave the Jays a 2-0 lead in the fifth with a two-RBI double to deep left field.

The Cougars got on the board in the sixth when Dalton Short launched a solo shot to center field for the team's first hit.

Lutheran: St. Charles sent it to extra innings by executing a double steal.

"It happens. We learn from our mistakes," Lasley said. "You could tell they were frustrated by the whole thing, but they came through and got the job done."

In the eighth, Tucker Schwartz reached on an error, allowing two runs to score. Two more Jays crossed the plate when Dawson Schuemann singled up the middle for a 6-2 lead.

Blake Terry finished off the game by retiring the side in order.

Schwartz helped save the Jays against Eureka, tracking down a deep fly ball in center field in the bottom of the seventh to record the second out.

"Tucker gets really good jumps on balls," Lasley said. "He's really stepped up and kind of taking charge out there. It was a well hit ball but we knew we had somebody there."

Wood ended the game with a strikeout.

Jefferson City needed to rally in the seventh to defeat Fatima.

Down 8-5, the Jays tied it at 8 to send it to the eighth.

Then the Jays created plenty of cushion in the eighth with five runs to earn the victory.

Jeremy Parks earned the win by pitching 4 innings of relief. He allowed one run on seven hits with five strikeouts and a walk.

Hoerchler got it done at the plate with three hits and two RBI. Schwartz, Shinkle, Wood, Terry and Dawson Schulte each had two hits.

Shinkle drove in four runs and Wood tallied three RBI.