Players are from bottom l to r:  Jeffery Drake, Heath Ford, Chase Keller, Kaleb Darnell, denver McQuary.  Middle to l to r:  Will Harrison, Chance Wilson, Hunter Burleson, Riley Self, Zack Carter, and Caleb Roberson.  Coaches are from top l to r:  Head Coach Steve Roberson, Assistant Coach christ Ford and Asst. Coach Chris Wilson.  Not pictured are coaches Jeff Burleson, Randy Harrison, and Kevin McQuary.

Special to the Daily Times Leader

The 2009 summer was a very successful one for the Mossy Oak Jakes, highlighted by a third place finish at the USSSA World Series in Southaven in June. After a couple of months off, the Jakes have been gearing up for the 2010 Fall Season and it got under way Sept. 12-13 in Oxford at the FNC Fall Classic.  There was a total of 50 teams on hand but only one would be crowned Sunday night.

And it was the Mossy Oak Jakes.

The fireworks got started early from the Jakes batting order as Heath Ford lead the weekend off with a stand-up double against the Cleveland Rebels. The hitting wouldn't stop there as every Jakes hitter in the line-up recorded hits in the 11-2 win.

Also hitting for doubles were Chase Keller, Chance Wilson, Kaleb Darnell and Will Harrison. Hunter Burleson, Zack Carter, Riley Self and Caleb Roberson also had hits. Carter got the win on the mound, striking out five batters before giving the hill up to Chase Keller, who earned the save.

In the second game the Jakes came out victorious again with an 11-2 victory over the hometown Oxford, the Mississippi Legends. Will Harrison, Caleb Roberson, and Hunter Burleson would each rip doubles down the line for a combined 5 RBI's between them.

Wilson, Ford, Keller and Jeffery Drake would each record two hits apiece. Riley Self, Carter, and Darnell, would also record hits. Will Harrison would earn the win on the hill strking out seven Legends batters and Burleson closed to get the save.

Mossy Oak returned on Sept. 13 just two games away from the championship.  

However, they would first have to get by another undefeated team, the Central Miss. Braves. Riley Self got the start on the hill and held the Braves scoreless through the first three innings. With the Jakes up 4-0 in the fourth, the Braves battled back hitting a pair of homeruns in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead 4-2. But the Jakes would hold on for a 6-3 win to send them to the championship game against No. 1 Collierville Reds.

Collierville opened up the scoring in the first inning going on top 2-0, but that would be all the Reds would be able to manufacture against the strong Jakes defense. Will Harrison again got the start on the mound, holding the Reds scoreless for the next two innings.  Chance Wilson came in and shut them down the next two innings to earn the save.

Denver McQuary had two hits along with Ford, Roberson, Keller, Drake and Carter. Burleson hit two doubles. Mossy Oak would go undefeated at 5-0 in the two-day tourney and gave up only 10 runs the entire weekend.  They scored 41 total runs in four games.

Next game for the Jakes will be the USSSA Fall Nationals in Southaven.



Players are from bottom l to r: Jeffery Drake, Heath Ford, Chase Keller, Kaleb Darnell, Denver McQuary. Middle l to r: Will Harrison, Chance Wilson, Hunter Burleson, Riley Self, Zack Carter, and Caleb Roberson. Coaches are from top l to r: Head Coach Steve Roberson, Assistant Coach Chris Ford and Asst. Coach Chris Wilson. Not pictured are Coaches Jeff Burleson, Randy Harrison, and Kevan McQuary.