Brock Netter, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
CHILLICOTHE — Thursday’s non-league contest was only Jackson’s fourth game of the season. But it was also just the confidence booster the Ironmen needed.
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA
After scoring 27 runs over its last two games, Jackson faced an early season test and passed with flying colors, earning a hard-fought 8-4 victory over state-ranked Unioto at V.A. Memorial Stadium.
“We came out hot, scoring a few runs, and that helped us big-time while setting the tone for the night,” Jackson coach Josh McGraw said. “I wasn’t completely sure what to expect with our young guys on somewhat of a big stage against an incredibly-talented Unioto team. We had our share of struggles, but overcame them and our pitchers did a great job.”
Jackson (3-1) went with a pitching-by-committee strategy, calling on three different hurlers.
Each rose to the occasion.
Zander Ervin earned the win in 2 2/3 innings of work, allowing four hits and two earned runs. Bodhi Wolford surrendered five hits in 1 2/3 innings, but gained valuable experience and reps on the mound. And Cade Wolford closed the show in 2 2/3 innings, striking out four batters.
“It’s kind of exciting since the coaches trust me and let me call pitches, so it builds a relationship between pitcher and catcher,” Jackson catcher Noah Ernst said. “Zander has what feels like 15 different pitches, but they were all working and he kept [Unioto] off-balance. Cade was humming his fastball right by guys and for just being a freshman, Bodhi is a dog on the mound.”
Jackson wasted no time jumping ahead as Gavin Jones logged an RBI groundout to quickly go ahead 1-0. Later in the inning, A.J. Graham roped a two-run double into left field to extend the lead to 3-0.
After retiring the Shermans in order, the Ironmen continued to pile on run support.
Noah Ernst smoked an RBI single into the outfield green before crossing the dish on a double steal, pushing the lead to 5-0.
PHOTOS: Images from Jackson’s win over Unioto
“Not to toot my own horn, but I started off pretty good with a couple hits before I kind of tailed off in the end,” Ernst said. “But this was a complete team effort from top to bottom. The young guys stepped up and played great.”
One negative for the Ironmen was four errors on the night, which led to Unioto scoring its first run to narrow the deficit to 5-1.
In the bottom of the third, the Shermans (3-1) added two more. Isaiah Leeth notched a sacrifice fly into center field and, later in the inning, the Ironmen were called for a balk with the bases loaded, plating another run that cut the lead to 5-3.
However, Jackson never showed a sense of panic.
It just went back to hitting and adding more crooked numbers to the board. Graham laced an RBI single into left field to seize back momentum before Cade Wolford came up with the biggest hit of the game — a two-run infield single that ballooned the lead to 8-3.
“The game could have been a lot different if I didn’t drive in those runs,” Graham said. “I took the first pitch in my first at-bat and found right-center field and just continued to square the ball up and wait for my pitch.”
Andrew Lemaster ripped an RBI single for Unioto in the bottom of the fifth, but the Shermans missed a golden chance in the sixth, leaving the bases loaded for a third time as the Ironmen’ pitching staff induced a ground out before putting the finishing touches on an early season victory that’s certainly a statement.
“I think this win lets these guys know they belong. It’s tough replacing seven starters that achieved the level of success they did. But it’s their time now,” McGraw said. “We’re not rebuilding. Just retooling and going out every night to win games. There’s a lot of young talent on this team and hopefully they know they belong on the varsity level.”
Graham finished 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs to lead the Ironmen statistically and was followed by Noah Ernst going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Cade Wolford also helped out, going 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
For Unioto, Andrew Griffin took the loss in three innings, allowing five earned runs and striking out six batters. Lemaster finished 1-for-4 with an RBI while Leeth added an RBI.
While the Shermans attempt to bounce back on Saturday with a doubleheader against Logan Elm, Jackson is back in action on Saturday, hosting both Minford and Warren.
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