J’ville baseball punches ticket to regional tourney

ATKINS — Jessieville flexed its muscles offensively in the first round of the 3A-4 district tournament here Thursday.

The Lions scored seven runs on seven hits in the first two innings and rolled to a 13-3 win over Perryville, clinching a spot in the regional tournament for the first time since 2012.

“They’ve seen it the last two years and didn’t get to make it (to regionals), and that’s what we’ve been building with these guys,” Jessieville coach Jamie Saveall said.

Logan Perkins doubled home a run in the first inning off Perryville starter Mason Thessing before Jessieville opened the floodates in the second. Perkins and Adam Saveall drove in two runs each, and Saveall later scored on a throwing error as the Lions went up 7-1.

“Once the guys started hitting, it gets contagious and they just feed off of one another,” said Jamie Saveall. “Everybody was swinging a hot bat today and that’s the way you want it.”

Given ample run support, Kaleb Moody stifled the Mustangs on the mound. The senior scattered three runs on six hits with nine strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings, finishing one out shy of a complete game after reaching his pitch limit for the day.

“Moody was our ticket in and we used him; he did a great job on the mound,” Saveall said. “He had one little hiccup in the fourth inning, but got the double-play ball to get out of it. He’s been in battles and he knows how to get out of them.”

Perryville’s Gavin Tindell relieved Thessing in the bottom of the second, finding similar results. Dylan Anderson hit his fifth home run of the season while Aaron Ford, Dakota Fortenberry and Ethan Goessman each drove in one run.

Fortenberry’s RBI single in the bottom of the sixth enacted the mercy rule as Jessieville led by 10 runs.

Thessing suffered the loss with six runs allowed on seven hits in 1 2/3 innings. Tindell pitched 4 2/3 innings, surrendering seven runs on seven hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Saveall finished with two singles, one double, two RBI and one stolen base in four at-bats while Perkins had two doubles, one single and four RBI in four trips.

“Logan was hitting the ball the way we like it to be hit, line drives and hard with a lot behind it,” Jamie Saveall said. “It doesn’t hurt anything that he’s following Moody and Dylan; they get on and

then it gives him an opportunity to get those RBI. That’s the reason we’ve got him there in the lineup.”

Colby Campbell had three hits in four at-bats for the Mustangs, finishing with two singles, one double, two RBI and two stolen bases.

* Facing Lamar in the second round, Jessieville made things interesting with a seventh-inning rally before falling 6-5.

The Lions plated five runs in the top of the seventh, Chase Pedersen and Adam Saveall each with a home run, but Jacob Roberts got Perkins to fly out to end the game with the tying run stranded on first base.

“They’re fighters and I kept telling them that we were one hit away from busting this thing open and getting it close,” Jamie Saveall said. “We probably got in too big of a hole, and we’ve done that both times we played Lamar.”

Lamar starter Zach Dillard, a lefthander, allowed two singles through six innings before Adam Saveall’s leadoff homer in the seventh.

“The Dillard kid does a great job on the mound; he’s a really talented lefty,” said Jamie Saveall. “Strikeout wise, we swung at a lot of pitches in the dirt that he was fooling us on.”

Perkins matched Dillard through the first two frames before third-inning problems. Ike Pelts drove in two runs while Jacob Roberts and Bailey Wilson each had one RBI to give Lamar a 4-0 lead.

Jessieville reliever Dalton McClard allowed two unearned runs before settling in for good. The junior tossed 3 2/3 no-hit innings, striking out three while walking one to keep the Lions in the game.

“He’s gritty; he’s going to battle for you and compete,” Jamie Saveall said. “He doesn’t strike out a lot of people, but he pitches to contact and he makes them hit his pitch. We did a good job with him on the mound, and the kids have a lot of confidence in him when he’s out there.”

Anderson, Moody and Saveall each drove in one run in the seventh for the Lions while Pedersen’s blast plated two runs.

Jessieville faces Atkins or Paris in the third-place game at noon today.

“I think the guys understand what’s at stake,” said Jamie Saveall. “We’re looking at a three or a four seed, and if you can play a two rather than a one, that’s big. I hope the way we finished this game will carry over into tomorrow. Seeing what we have on the mound is going to be the biggest thing.”

Perryville;100 200 — 3 7 3

Jessieville;252 112 — 13 14 0

Moody, Saveall (6) and Saveall, Fortenberry (6). Thessing, Tindell (3) and Johnson. W-Moody. L-Thessing. HR-Jessieville, Anderson. 2B-Jessieville, Perkins (2), Saveall. Perryville, Campbell. S-Perryville, Lawrence. SB-Jessieville, Ford, McClard, Moody, Saveall, Perkins. Perryville, Campbell

(2).

Jessieville;000 000 5 — 5 6 1

Lamar;006 000 — 6 5 1 Dillard, Roberts (7) and Pelts. Perkins, McClard (3) and Fortenberry. W-Dillard. L-Perkins. Sv-Roberts. HR-Jessieville, Pedersen, Saveall.

2B-Jessieville, Moody. SF-Lamar, Warren.