Rockets earn playoff berth as school honors Curtis
The day belonged to John Curtis, as the longtime coach at Jefferson-Morgan was honored for his 42nd year of service before and after the game.
Curtis appreciated the celebration, but what the veteran coach wanted most was a playoff berth and victory, which the Rockets provided him with in a 6-1 triumph over Jeannette in Section 1-A play on Monday afternoon at Jefferson-Morgan High School.
The playoff-bound Rockets improved to 7-4 in section play and 11-7 overall.
The Jayhawks dropped to 5-6 in the section and 9-7 overall.
Jefferson-Morgan opened the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the first inning, which was all the support John Woodward would need in earning the win on the mound.
Woodward yielded one earned run on four hits over six innings. He struck out nine and walked three. Woodward threw 104 pitches (62 strikes). Brayden Ellsworth pitched a scoreless seventh inning. He allowed one hit with three strikeouts and a walk.
The Rockets’ two runs in the opening frame came when Woodward drove in Jaymison Robinson and Dayten Marion scored on an error.
Ellsworth crossed home plate on Drew Adams’ groundout to shortstop in the third inning for a 3-0 lead.
Robinson scored on Deakyn DeHoet’s base hit to center field for a 4-0 advantage before Jeanette’s Evyn Yergeau hit a solo home run to left field in the top of the fifth inning to cut the deficit to 4-1.
DeHoet got the run back plus one in the sixth when he blasted a 3-1 pitch to center field for a two-run homer that also scored Austin Grandel, who had reached on a bunt single. DeHoet’s shot came with two outs.
Joe Bair doubled for the home team. DeHoet and Woodward had two hits apiece.
Yergeau had two hits for the visitors.