The Giants gave one away and stole one back Tuesday afternoon in a doubleheader against Evanston. Jackson jumped out to 2-0 leads in both games, it was how they ended that mattered.
Evanston 4, Jackson 2
The Giants jumped on Evanston star Jagger Mitchell, who recently signed to play collegiate ball at Arizona Christian University.
After Parker Bleggi bounced out to start the 1st, Ayden Gralund and Matt Fisher responded with back-to-back singles, followed by a Steven Ashurts walk. With the bases loaded, Mason Wright delivered a 2-run single to put Post 43 on top in the early going.
But then the Giants developed holes in their bats, 12 strikeouts in all as Casen Smith came on to earn the win with 5 innings of relief.
For Jackson, Kade Foulke (1-5) threw a beauty until he ran out of gas in the 7th. He was lifted after 104 pitches. Parker Bleggi worked the final 2/3 as Evanston rallied for 3 in the top of the 7th to win it.
Jackson 3, Evanston 2
The Giants again spotted themselves a 2-0 lead after singles by Fisher and Bridger Hammond started the 2nd inning. Lucas Gralund drove in a run with a single to center. It was almost all Steven Ashurts needed as he went the distance on 99 pitches over 7 innings. He scattered 5 hits, giving up 2 runs while striking out 7.
The Outlaws chipped away at the Giant’s lead, though, with 1 in the 3rd and another run in the 5th to tie the game.
Jackson waited until their final turn at bat. Bleggi led off the innings with a single to center. Mason Wright bunted Bleggi over the 2nd. Ayden Gralund popped out to the catcher, leaving everything up to the pitcher Ashurts with a chance to help himself out.
Ashurts never needed to take the bat off his shoulder. Three straight balls were followed by a wild pitch which scored Bleggi all the way from 2nd for the Giants win.
Next up
Post 43 (12-40) heads to Rock Springs Wednesday for a 3-game set with the Post 24 Stallions (12-40) to close out the regular season. Both teams with identical records, the series will absolutely determine seeding for state championship play that begins next week.
