Jackson will play Sikeston in the SEMO Conference championship game

Jackson and Sikeston will play in the SEMO Conference championship at Capaha Field at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Jackson beat rival Central 5-2 in a semifinal contest Saturday to advance to the title game. Saturday marked only the second time that I had seen Jackson play this season and the first time I had seen Central in action.

Here are a few notes about the game that I didn't include in my game story.

Base running

Two Jackson base runners were picked off during the second inning and one Indians base runner was picked off in the third. "What's going on here?" I heard a few Jackson fans cry out as the Indians ran themselves into early outs while trailing Central.

"I think we had a lack of mental focus early on," Jackson coach Rob French said when asked about the pickoffs. "I think everybody was trying to do a little bit too much. We were all a little bit over anxious. Guys weren't really thinking about where they were supposed to be. As the game went on, we all kind of came together and made that adjustment and we were successful the rest of the way."

Central's Green does it with the bat and glove

Center fielder Jared Green was impressive against Jackson. He made two nice catches, including on where he sprinted back and caught the baseball over his shoulder in the fourth inning. Green also stroked three of Central's six hits.

Looking ahead to Monday's title game

Jackson likely will start senior hurler Caleb Hosey, who is rested after not pitching since Wednesday against Notre Dame. Hosey has made the most starts of any Jackson pitcher with seven. But his earned run average is a little high (4.57). He has a 3-3 record and has struck out 25 batters in 30 2/3 innings. But French said he also might consider senior Drew Coleman who is 1-3 with a 8.70 ERA in four starts and four relief appearances.

"We've got a couple of guys that we're looking at," French said. "Either he [Hosey] or Drew Coleman. We'll work them out tomorrow and we'll know Monday afternoon."

French said he and his players are excited about playing a night game at Capaha Field.

"To be able to play a championship game in this conference tournament is always an exciting thing," French said. "We're looking forward to playing under the lights and having a good time on Monday."

McDowell throws a strong game

Sophomore left-hander Zach McDowell lowered his ERA average to 2.90 with the complete game victory against the Tigers.

When French sent me his roster at the beginning of the year, he listed his top three pitchers in this order: 1. Hosey 2. Coleman 3. Travis Hurst. But McDowell, who made his third start on Monday and his sixth appearance on the mound altogether, appears to be moving up the depth chart as does Hurst who is 3-2 with a 1.75 earned run average.

I asked French if he might start McDowell in districts.

"Potentially," French said. "He and Travis have both been very successful all year long. Obviously, we try to work Zach in the mix [relief and starts] a little bit more being a sophomore, trying to get his feet wet. Now, he's on the mound at the beginning of games. That's a change we've made to be successful."

Baker drills the big hit

Freshman Clayton Baker delivered a two-run single in the fourth to give his team a 3-2 lead. Jackson never relinquished the lead after Baker's hit.

Baker is batting .350 with eight RBIs in 40 at bats.

"He's been starting for us the last several weeks," French said. "He's really come on as a freshman. He's a kid that's really mature physically and mentally. We don't feel any less comfortable with him being a freshman up there than with anybody else. He just went up there, he saw a good pitch and he hit it."