Legion baseball: Jackson season ends in district semis

ST. JAMES - Jackson had some chances, but it was St. James that took advantage of its opportunities Friday in the Division 2-District II semifinals.
Ryan Menssen had a pair of clutch hits for Post 33 and Derek Meyer threw a four-hit shutout. That was enough to end Post 130’s season with a 3-0 loss.
Jackson threatened in the first when Ryan Christopher reached on a walk before St. James committed an error on a ball hit by Chris Gumto. That gave Post 130 runners on second and third with just one out. But Meyer got out of the jam by striking out the next two.
Post 33 took advantage of a Jackson’s lone miscue of the game in the top of the fifth. An error put a runner on base for Menssen, who cracked a double to put his team on top 1-0.
Darius Johnson, Ryker VanderWoude and Easton Bahr connected on three straight triples to begin the home half of the fifth. But an out on the basepaths proved costly. It slowed the threat enough to allow St. James to wriggle free without giving up a run.
Two singles gave Menssen a chance to do some more damage in the sixth. He pounded another key two-bagger. This one drove in two runs and Post 33 went up 3-0.
Christopher took the loss for Jackson. He allowed three runs - two earned - on nine hits, struck out three and didn’t walk anyone over six innings of work. Keegan Klontz pitched the ninth and surrendered no runs on who hit, walked one and struck out two.
Johnson, VanderWoude, Bahr and Avery Henderson had a hit each for Jackson.
Meyer allowed no runs on only four hits and struck out seven in a complete game shutout. Menssen finished the game 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs.
The win pushes St. James into the district championship game where it will meet up with Wells. Post 210 advanced to the title contest last Sunday with a win over Jackson. That game will begin at 2 p.m. and, because it is a double-elimination tournament, if St. James wins, a second game will be needed. That wold be played in St. James immediately following the first.
The two teams are yet to play during the district tournament.
R H E
St. J 000 012 0 - 3 10 2
Jack 000 000 0 - 0 4 1