Coming into the season with numerous players without varsity experience, Monday's Jamboree allowed the Jefferson City Jays to continue competition for positions in the lineup.
"We have a pretty good core group of sophomores that we wanted to kind of throw them out there and see what they can do," said Jefferson City coach Kyle Lasley, who's in his first year as the head coach for the Jays. "At this time of year you're just trying figure out what works and who works together."
The Jays opened play at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex by tying Helias at 3 before defeating Blair Oaks 9-2 and topping Fatima 2-1 in their three, three-inning exhibition games.
Lasley said he wanted to see how the sophomore class would do, so two of them pitched an inning and three others were in the lineup right away against the Crusaders.
Sophomore right-hander Wyatt Fischer got the start on the mound, allowing a run and a hit with a strikeout in the first inning.
Freshman lefty Case Hager got out of a jam in the second to just surrender a run on three hits with a strikeout while stranding two runners in scoring position.
Then sophomore Jeremy Parks gave up a run on a hit with a a strikeout in the third.
"I was very pleased with our pitching," Lasley said. " For the most part they had command on their offspeeds. In this cold weather it's sometimes hard to get the velocity where you want it this early in the season. More or less just throwing strikes and making guys put it in play and let the defense work."
Against the Falcons, seniors Justin Wood and Jack Shinkle each pitched a scoreless frame, combining for five strikeouts.
Blake Terry and Trevin White each tossed a scoreless inning against Fatima.
Offensively, the Jays finished with 11 hits in the nine innings.
Brenden Hoener had a pair of hits against Blair Oaks, including a high-flying double to left field to drive in two runs.
Wood had three RBI and Garrett Butel had two RBI in the game.
The Jays will get their season started Saturday with a trip to Washington to face Borgia and Fatima.
Jefferson City's home opener will be March 19 against Hickman. Game time is 5 p.m.