Jacksboro BB moves into regional quarterfinals

ABILENE – Sometimes enough is enough. 

After a nip and tuck battle with Tuscola Jim Ned in game one of the best-of-three series May 11, Jacksboro took a day off to regroup Friday and came out Saturday at McMurry’s Walt Driggers Field ready to take care of business, jumping out to a 12-2 fifth inning lead and being one out away from ending the game on mercy rule.

Like the gamers the Indians were all series, Jim Ned took advantage of a pitching change and made things somewhat interesting down the stretch in an eventual 15-9 game 2 win for the Tigers. Jacksboro is now 20-10-2 with Jim Ned ending its campaign at 17-14.

Jacksboro continues down the playoff road Thursday vs. No.4 Brock (24-3-1). Game one of the best-of-three is Thursday at 7 p.m. at Weatherford College. Game two is Friday at 7 p.m. and game three, if needed, is Saturday at 1 p.m.

Jacksboro Coach Blake Belcher Jsaid im Ned’s comeback didn’t surprise him.

“They showed they can hit throughout both games,” Belcher said. “Everyone had a chance to perform and did for us.”

The Tigers scored in each of the first five innings, giving pitcher Clay Botello an early cushion he was able to use. Hunter Drennan’s RBI single scored Tyler Harmonson in the first. In the second, Luke Dixon added an RBI single in the second to pad the lead to 3-0.

A Drennan double, two walks, an error and a Lathan Lowrance RBI single extended the lead to 5-0 in the third. Jim Ned scored twice in the third before Jacksboro began pulling away in the fourth.

Walks to Dixon and Botello became runs on a Fernando Piedra single for a 7-2 cushion. Drennan reached on a fielder’s choice with courtesy runner Jacob Hull scoring later as part of a double steal to extend the lead. A four-run Tiger fifth opened with Harmonson drawing a walk and Dixon coming through with his second single of the 2:54 contest.

Drennan then was hit by a pitch to load the sacks. Harmonson beat a throw home on a fielder’s choice to put Piedra aboard with a 9-2 lead. A wild pitch, balk, and groundout would score three more runs for a 12-2 advantage.

A pair of infield groundouts would have Jim Ned one out away from elimination. Because of pitch limit, Botello was replaced by Lowrance on the hill. With the bases full, Harmonson relieved Lowrance and got a force play at second to end the threat.

The Indians struck for three sixth inning runs after keeping the Tigers off the board in the top of the frame. Jacksboro got back to business offensively in the top of the seventh.

Piedra opened with his second hit of the game, beating out an infield single. Ty Kennedy drew a walk with Caleb Nunley beating out a bunt single to fill the pond. A pair of wild pitches and a groundout emptied the bases for a 15-5 lead. Harmsonson’s second single of the game was for naught after a flyout to center.

Jim Ned struck for four seventh inning runs, using three hits and an error to pace the uprising before Jacksboro put the Indians out for good.

Brock, the District 7-3A champ, comes with few surprises.

“We know they’re good. You don’t get to be third or fourth ranked without having something,” Belcher said. “We better have our big boy pants on and be ready to play, that’s for sure.”