Jeffers coach Luke Paul puts the brakes on Brogan Turner at third base during Division 4 District 97 quarterfinal play Tuesday against Ontonagon at Stanton Field. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)

STANTON — District playoff baseball got underway across the state of Michigan Tuesday. Locally, the Jeffers Jets (18-8) opened Division 4 District 97 play with a 13-0 win against the visiting Ontonagon Gladiators at Stanton Field.

The game ended in five innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

With ace pitcher Cody Turner on the mound, the Jeffers squad scored eight in the first and five in the second while keeping the Gladiators to just two hits in five innings.

“We put the bat on the ball and made the plays that needed be made,” noted Jets coach Luke Paul.

Swinging a hot bat in the first inning were Brogan Turner and Chad Isaacson. Both were 3-for-3 on the afternoon.

They opened the bottom frame with singles and scored on a Cody Turner base rap. A two-run triple by Jets catcher Pierce Johnson made it a 6-0 game. Chad Isaacson capped off the scoring with another hit in the first to make this an 8-0 Jeffers lead.

The bats stayed hot in the second with Ryan Wesa knocking in two runs and scoring himself on Cody Turner’s second hit of the day.

Levi Kinnunen threw the fourth for the Jets and Lane Johnson closed the game with two strikeouts in the fifth.

“Levi threw well and Lane is my closer. He comes in and throws strike,” added Paul.

This was the Jets third win against the Gladiators. They swept a doubleheader against them in early May (10-0 and 6-1).

While the Gladiators season came to an end, coach Josh Drew said it is was a much better year for his team. They ended the season at 7-6 and 3-3 in conference play.

“This is the best record Ontonagon has posted since baseball started here at the school. We grew a lot,” he said. “The boys did well and played hard the whole season. Hats off to Jeffers. They are well-coached and play solid baseball.”

Up next

The Jets will travel to Ironwood to face the Ewen-Trout Creek Panthers in District 97 semifinal play on Friday. The district championship game with be held that same day in Ironwood.