Jefferson High scored four runs in the seventh inning for a 4-3 comeback victory Tuesday over Valley Park in a Class 3 sectional baseball game.
With one out in the seventh, Bo Davis hit a home run for the second time in as many games to put the Blue Jays on the scoreboard. Davis hit his first varsity home run against St. Pius X in the District 3 championship.
"It was a nuke that ignited the rally," Jefferson head coach Robert Kuehnle said.
Jefferson was down to its final out when Oliver Klump and Landon Taylor were hit by pitches. With two on, Blake Hampton’s double scored Klump to make it 3-2. Jack Klump singled to right field, and an error on the play brought home Taylor and Hampton to give the Blue Jays a 4-3 lead.
The Hawks, who had twice as many hits (10-5) as Jefferson, loaded the bases with one out in their half of the seventh with two singles and a hit batter, but Jefferson pitcher Matt Wood got the next two batters to pop out to seal the victory.
It was the Blue Jays’ 12th consecutive victory, and they improved to 22-4 this season. They play Scott City (33-1) in the state quarterfinals on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. Jefferson has made one appearance in the final four, a third-place finish in 2023. The Rams won the Class 2 state title in 2008 and have been to the final four eight times.