Rockets’ offense in gear as season comes to a close
JEFFERSON — The Jefferson-Morgan baseball team’s offense remains hot near the end of the season, putting together a dominant 15-0 victory over Mapletown in Section 1-A action Wednesday afternoon.
The Rockets (9-3, 7-2), who clinched a spot in the playoffs on Tuesday after a 17-2 win over Avella, were clicking on offense from the get-go to evoke the 15-run mercy rule.
J-M’s offense has been a spark plug for the Rockets, as they have average around 14 runs a game in their nine wins.
“One through nine, everybody has hit this year,” J-M coach John Curtis said. “We haven’t had that one power guy that carried us. We have been playing small ball. Sometimes it’s as simple as making contact with the ball and stealing bases to get into scoring position. We don’t rely on doubles or home runs. It’s all about our speed.”
The Maples (2-11, 0-9) started the game with singles from Ben Boone and Kevin Ridgley, but J-M’s starting pitcher Logan Bowman collected back-to-back strikeouts.
Jordan Griffin’s single loaded the bases, but Bowman got out of the jam with a strikeout that held the Maples scoreless.
In the bottom of the first, Jordan Dicks was issued a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error and scored the game’s first run after a passed ball. Dicks finished with a game-high three runs scored.
Logan Bowman drew a walk in front of an RBI double by his brother Tyler to make it 2-0. Tyler Bowman later scored on a RBI groundout by Dom Cage.
The Rockets sent 13 batters to the plate in the second inning and racked up 10 runs.
Dylan Davis started the second with a walk. Travis Taylor laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Davis to second, but the throw got past the first basemen and both runners crossed home plate to make it 5-0.
Dicks, Austin Clark and Logan Bowman hit three consecutive singles, the last one being a run-scoring hit by Bowman. Cage and Jason Dotts then smacked back-to-back RBI doubles, followed by a RBI single by Davis.
J-M scored three more runs off of two defensive errors in the outfield by Mapletown, and led 13-0 at the end of two.
In the bottom of the third, both of the Bowman brothers were issued walks, and scored off of a two-run double by Josh Bissett to end the contest.
After Logan Bowman pitched the first inning, Cage came on in relief and tossed two scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
Boone was tagged with the loss for Mapletown, going two innings with six walks.
Before the game, the Rockets recognized its four seniors, Tyler Bowman, Cage, Taylor and Dicks.
“Those four guys started for me as freshmen in our last playoff game in 2010 against Jeannette,” Curtis said. “They are still here and are still improving as ball players. Making the playoffs was their primary goal this year. I love their effort and I love what they bring to the team.”
Both teams will conclude their Section 1-A schedules on Friday, as Mapletown hosts Carmichaels and J-M travels to California.
“California should be a fun match-up,” Curtis said. “They are a well-coached team and will make the routine plays on defense. It’s going to be a battle and its going to take a good effort to pull off a win. The last time we played them, we beat them 9-6 at home and it was a well-played game.”