Leyton Younse hit a single that scored Dawson Griffin and Tucker Goss to complete a four run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning to give JP12U a “walk-off” 7-6 win over Buckeye. Jackson Parish put themselves in position to take the winners bracket final contest by blasting Winn Parish 9-0 in the opener of the District 8 tournament being played at the Jackson Parish Recreation Department (JPRD) Sports Complex.
As result of the two victories, JP12U is now in position of needing only to win Monday’s 8:00 pm contest that will be played on Field 1 to qualify for the state tournament.
Trailing Buckeye 6-3 with only one more chance left, Jaxon Cheatwood, Bryce Tolar and Goss coaxed walks to load the bases followed by a single by Griffin that narrowed the deficit to two runs. A clutch, two-out single by Ryan Mauthe closed the gap to one setting the stage for Younse’s heroics.
The rally was the second time in the contest that JP12U spotted Buckeye a lead only to come back with two outs. In the bottom of the third, Jackson Parish was trailing 2-0 when Asher and Aiden Rhodes, along with Cheatwood, drew walks. Tolar then followed with a single to knot the score.
Buckeye responded by taking another two run lead but Griffin hit a single in the bottom of the fourth inning and scored when Mauthe ripped a triple to center field to draw to within one run. The visitors would score two more in the top of the sixth to go up 6-3 setting the stage for the fantastic finish.
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E |
| Buckeye | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 0 |
| JP12U | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 2 |
3B – Mauthe
RBI – Younse 2, Tolar 2, Mauthe 2, Griffin
Runs – Griffin 2, Tolar, Goss, Asher Rhodes, Aiden Rhodes, Cheatwood
Steals – Tolar 2, Younse, Cheatwood, Mauthe
JP12U 9 Winn Parish 0: Tucker Goss, Leyton Younse and Ryan Mauthe pitched two innings each to combine to limit Winn Parish to just one hit strike out 11 batters in the tourney opening victory.
The JP12U offense made a great impression as well as they pounded Winn Parish pitching for 12 hits that included two doubles and two triples while also drawing 9 free passes.
Hayden Seymore led the hit parade with a double and a triple that accounted for three RBI and scoring two runs himself. Bryce Tolar also played a key role with two hits and scoring three runs as did Dawson Griffin who had two hits, including a double and knocked in a run. Ryan Mauthe smacked a triple that scored a run and Tucker Goss got a hit, scored a run and earned an RBI. Kolt Keiffer, Mason Thomas and Jaxon Cheatwood chipped in with a hit and a run scored as well.
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E |
| WP12U | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| JP12U | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | x | 9 | 12 | 2 |
2B – Griffin, Seymore
3B – Seymore, Mauthe
RBI – Seymore 3, Goss, Griffin, Mauthe
Runs – Tolar 3, Seymore 2, Goss, Keiffer, Thomas, Cheatwood
Steals – Asher Rhodes 2, Burns, Griffin, Seymore, Keiffer, Thomas, Tolar