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Bluejays’ Lay, Laster dazzle Rockets
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STRUTHERS
If the hallmark of a good team is finding ways to win when its not playing at its best, then the Jackson-Milton High School baseball team fits the mold.
“That was the worst we’ve played all season — even in our losses,” Jackson-Milton head coach Kevin Hogue said. “But we’re a talented team and luckily we won and advanced.”
The Bluejays (17-4) came from behind to beat Lowellville 4-2 in Thursday’s sectional final at Bob Cene Park. Next up is a date against either Lisbon or Southern Local in a district semifinal on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Cene Park.
Photo Gallery: Lowellville vs Jackson Milton Baseball
Jackson-Milton had to overcome a 2-0 hole and play through five defensive errors to claim the sectional crown.
But starting pitcher Sebastian Lay was strong, allowing just three hits and striking out five in as many innings while working around four of those five errors. Lay also walked none but hit one batter.
“I had my curveball working today,” Lay said. “The past couple games I hadn’t had it working, but today it got me out of some jams.”
Lay and his catcher, Noah Laster, communicated well as Lay would consistently throw the breaking ball in the dirt to get the swings and misses.
“That’s what I really throw it for,” Lay said. “It just worked well for me today.”
After two scoreless innings however, Lowellville struck first. Bryan Harris grounded to second baseman John Voland with the bases loaded but the ball got by Voland, allowing Anthony Petrovich and Vinny Kacir to score.
Jackson-Milton came back with one in their half of the third when Eric Ostrowski brought home Lay on a grounder to short to cut the lead to one.
The Bluejays found their path to victory in the fourth. Zac Socha singled home Voland with two outs in the inning to tie things up and then Lay reached on a single and an error by left fielder Dom McLaughlin that allowed Socha and Devan Christoff to score.
“All season it’s been just one inning and that’s our downfall,” Lowellville head coach Nick Clinkscale said. “We just couldn’t overcome the three runs in the inning.”
Prior to the fourth, Hogue admitted to worrying just a bit.
“You don’t get this gray beard [without worrying],” Hogue said.
But Clinkscale said he was proud of his team to push one of the best teams in Division IV.
“That was the No. 7 team in state so they earn what they get,” Clinkscale said. “We have a young team with only two seniors so I’m proud of the way they battled today.”
With the lead, Laster came on in the sixth and seventh innings and blew the doors off the Rockets, striking out the side in each inning to earn the save.
“I love closing,” Laster said. “I don’t like starting whatsoever. I’m good for like three innings so I can throw hard. When I threw offspeed I got yelled at by Coach Hogue so I got the memo to starting throwing fastballs.”
Petrovich pitched commendably for Lowellville, going 52/3 innings, scattering five hits and working around three errors himself.
“That’s his best outing of the year by far,” Clinkscale said. “I give him all the tough games. He doesn’t like it but there’s a reason we do that.”
But in the end, the Bluejays live to fight another day.
“It wasn’t our best day,” Hogue said. “But you survive, advance and go home.”