Jackson fights off Monroe 10-7 in 4A baseball districts

MILL CREEK — Things were looking pretty good for the Jackson baseball team early in its district opener against Monroe.

Then it got a little nerve-wracking for the Timberwolves.

After jumping out to an 8-0 lead in the first two innings, Jackson had to hold on as Monroe rallied back twice. The Timberwolves got a late two-run single by Anton Soderqvist to build their lead again and Jeremy Martin, usually a starter for Jackson, got the final three outs to end another Bearcats’ rally as the Timberwolves defeated Monroe 10-7 in a 4A District 1 loser-out game Saturday afternoon at Jackson High School.

“I thought we had some really, really clutch hits,” said Jackson coach Kirk Nicholson. “You think it’s an 8-0 game and then they bring it back to 8-5 and that single by Soderqvist is a huge hit — maybe the biggest hit of our year. … Our guys clutched up and got it done with two outs.”

Four of Jackson’s 10 runs came with two outs, and most of them came in a six-run second inning. The first five Timberwolves batters reached base. An RBI triple by Carter Booth (who finished 2-for-3) and an RBI double by Addison Beckmann was enough to force a Monroe pitching change.

But Skye Marschall (2-4), who led off the second inning with a hit, made sure the runs continued with a two-run single to put Jackson up 8-0.

“My kids played hard. That’s a tough game,” Nicholson said of the two-and-a-half-hour contest. “I think a lot of guys played a lot of roles to getting us where we are. Marschall had a good hitting day today for us in the eighth spot. A lot of guys did really positive things today.”

Jackson (14-8 overall) looked like it might run away with the game until the top of the fifth inning. The first three Bearcats reached base before a pinch-hit RBI single by junior Michael Dugas brought home the first run of the game for Monroe, which added a pair of runs on walks with the bases loaded and two more on wild pitches to pull to within 8-5.

“I’m proud of the guys’ fight,” said Monroe coach Eric Chartrand. “We didn’t play well enough early in this baseball game. We got in a position where we really had to fight and the guys didn’t quit and they kept their heads up and that’s what this program’s about. I’m proud of the guys.”

In the other dugout, Jackson started getting a little nervous as Bearcats continued to cross home plate.

“After they put up those five the whole team was down — but there’s no reason to (be),” Soderqvist said. “When someone makes a run like that it takes a toll on your soul. But our team is a bunch of mentally strong guys and I think we’re able to come back from more than most other teams can.”

Jackson did just that, adding two more runs on Soderqvist’s single in the bottom of the fifth.

Monroe rallied again in the seventh inning, with an RBI double by Justin Folz and another run on a wild pitch.

But Nicholson brought in Martin, who retired the next three batters he faced to clinch the victory and a rematch with Snohomish — which defeated Jackson 5-3 on Wednesday to clinch Wesco 4A’s No. 2 seed and the accompanying first-round bye — on Monday.

It will be the fifth game in eight days for the Timberwolves.

“Five games in eight days — that’s like the bigs almost,” Nicholson said with a laugh. “Definitely a minor-league club. I’m not sure I have that many pitchers left.

“We’re excited to get into the (semifinals). We could have won Tuesday or Wednesday and been there already but we didn’t do that. We went the long way but we’re here. We needed a couple extra games anyway, didn’t we? It’s just more time together.”

Soderqvist, for one, is excited to face Snohomish (15-6) again. The Panthers are 2-1 against Jackson this season.

“We’ll most likely see their (ace) on the mound, so I’m excited for that,” he said. “I think we’re going to come out with the same mentality we have: relaxed and ready to get after it.”

Justin Folz batted 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI to lead Monroe (9-12), which saw its season end with the loss. Senior starting pitchers Jared Cogar and Chase Carpenter had uncharacteristically unsteady outings after leading the way for the Bearcats — along with fellow senior pitcher Chayce Lau — most of the season.

“Jared Cogar and Chase Carpenter have been a great 1-2 on the mound all year,” Chartrand said. “Today wasn’t great for them, but they carried us to this spot. I’m really proud of those guys.”

At Jackson H.S.

WP: Jacob Bogacz. LP: Jared Cogar. Individual highlights: Monroe—Justin Folz (2-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI); Michael Dugas (1-1, pinch-hit RBI); Jackson—Carter Booth (2-3, 2 R, 3B, RBI); Skye Marschall (2-4, R, 2 RBI); Anton Soderqvist (1-3, R, 2 RBI). Records—Monroe 9-12 overall. Jackson 14-8.