VAN HORNE -- Alex Larson is having a blast in his senior season of playing baseball for the Jefferson J-Hawks.

Literally.

Larson belted two home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in six runs in helping the J-Hawks to an 8-2 lead after 3 1/2 innings Tuesday against Benton Community. The Bobcats battled back to post a 10-9 win that sent the J-Hawks to their eighth loss in their last nine games.

Larson came into the game with a team-high .449 batting average, one home run and a team-leading 11 RBIs.  His two-run home run in the first inning staked the J-Hawks (6-15) to a 2-0 lead and his grand slam in the fourth capped a six-run frame that put Jefferson ahead, 8-2. Benton (6-13) came back with six runs in the bottom of the fourth, tacked on single runs in the fifth and sixth, and pulled out the win.

"We're playing solid, but the mental game is not there right now," said Larson, who played his second straight game at shortstop after playing most of the season at third base. He also pitches.

Benton scored the tying run in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out double steal. With runners at first and third, the runner at first appeared to attempt to steal second. When the throw from catcher Drew Striegel went down to second baseman Ky Kramer, the runner pulled up and got in a rundown. The tying run scored and the J-Hawks were unable to record an out when second base went uncovered during the rundown.

"That's what is killing us," Larson said. "Not knowing where to go with the ball and errors. I'm not worried about hitting the ball or pitching. That's going well. The mental game is just what we have to notch up on right now."

The J-Hawks had 12 hits, six for extra bases, but committed three errors on defense that led to three unearned runs.

Larson was a letter-winner on Kennedy's state championship baseball team last summer, starting several games at third base early in the season. He said his playing time dwindled as the season wore on. He changed schools when his family moved into the Jefferson district, even though he could have stayed at Kennedy for his senior year.

"I loved Kennedy," Larson said. "There's nothing against anything at Kennedy. I miss those guys every day. But, I just figured why not try something new and exciting? High school gets boring after three years. You need something new to make it go quicker."

Larson said his youth teams often played teams with current J-Hawks Michael Rooney and Bailey Hollingsworth.

"I knew guys over here," he said. "We had some crazy rivalry. We played almost every weekend. So, I knew them pretty well.

"I had a group of friends to start out with. Now I've just made more friends and had fun. It's a great senior year."

Despite the difference in records -- Kennedy is 18-4 and ranked No. 5 in Class 4A and Jefferson is 6-15 -- Larson said he is glad to be playing with the J-Hawks.

"I say no regrets. I'm having a blast this year," Larson said. "Yeah, it's fun playing with those guys from Kennedy. I always liked playing with them. I played with them my whole life.

"But I'm having just as much fun with these guys. Winning and losing doesn't make a difference with me right now. Well, it does. And we have plenty of year left, it's only halfway through. The postseason is really what matters anyways."

Larson is relaxed and having fun with the J-Hawks.

"It's one of the greatest group of guys you'll meet," he said. "I'm having a blast. I love all the guys here."

JEFFERSON (9)
Michael Rooney, cf, 5 1 1 2, Drew Striegel, c, 3 0 2 0, Drake Vanous, cr, 0 2 0 0, Alex Larson, ss, 4 2 2 6, Jordan McCormick, 1b, 3 0 1 0, Jake Schmidt, rf, 4 0 1 0, Bailey Hollingsworth, dh, 2 1 1 0, Christian Knox, lf, 0 1 0 0, Ky Kramer, 2b, 3 1 1 0, Aaron Gruwell, pr, 0 0 0 0, Chance Tiedtke, 3b, 4 1 3 0, Sam Techau, p, 1 0 0 1, Austin Goodell, p, 0 0 0 0. Totals 29 9 12 9.

BENTON COMMUNITY (10)
Mitch Moser, 1b, 3 3 2 1, Jake Stenberg, c, 3 0 2 1, Jacob Germann, ss, 4 0 2 3, Jordan Kearns, dh, 3 0 2 0, Jacob Volz, p, 0 0 0 0, Ryan Choate, cr-lf, 0 1 0 0, Jordan McFarland, ph, 1 0 0 0, Ryan Oberreuter, pr, 0 1 0 0, Jonny Frese, lf-p, 3 1 1 1, Calvin Franzenburg, rf, 1 2 0 0, Brady Stramer, 3b, 2 0 0 0, Seth Schulte, 2b, 3 1 1 1, Dylan Franzenburg, cf, 3 1 2 1. Totals 26 10 12 8.

Jefferson   200 600 1 --  9 12 3
Benton     101 611 x -- 10 12 0

Techau, Goodell (4) and Striegel. Volz, Frese (6) and Stenberg. W-Volz. L-Goodell. Sv-Frese. 2B-Striegel, Schmidt, Hollingsworth, Tiedtke, Moser, Kearns. HR-Larson 2. SB-Choate, Germann, Oberreuter.