DAVENPORT -- Perhaps it was because it was the last game of the regular season -- in extra innings -- and nothing of consequence was dependent upon its outcome.

Or perhaps it was past someone's bedtime.

Whatever the reason, an apparent out was ruled a safe call at the plate and Davenport North handed Jefferson an 8-7, nine-inning defeat in a non-conference baseball game at Ken Kaul Field.

Jefferson closed out the regular season 16-22. North finished 15-21.

North's Blain Samuelson opened the ninth inning with a blooper that fell into shallow left between three fielders for a single. He stole second and went third on Jacob TeBrake's long fly ball to the warning track in right field.

Jefferson Coach Mike Kuba decided to load up the bases, issuing intentional walks to Zach Fries and Chase Roehm, to set up a force out at any base.

The J-Hawks pulled their infield in to the edge of the grass and Jared Ringsdorf hit a chopper to shortstop Ky Kramer. His throw home to catcher Colten Jourdan appeared in time for the force to retire a sliding Samuelson. But the umpire ruled Samuelson beat the throw to the plate.

And the J-Hawks lost in the bottom of the last inning for the second time in their last three games.

Kuba was disappointed with the loss, but said it was a good experience for the J-Hawks heading into Friday night's Class 4A substate first round game at Muscatine.

"We were put in a lot of spots that, hopefully, will benefit us Friday night," he said.

North scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning after Jefferson had taken a 1-0 lead. Jefferson eighth grader Spencer Van Scoyoc, after taking a ground ball of his leg that ricocheted to Kramer for a ground out, hit the next three batters. The latter two forced in runs. Cooper Roehm, who had two hits in the inning from his leadoff spot, also had a two-run single.

The J-Hawks fought back with two runs in each of the second, fifth and sixth innings to tie the game. Layne Sullivan had a sacrifice fly in the second inning and another run scored on an error. Two runs scored on wild pitches in the fifth and Chance Tiedtke had a two-run single in the sixth.

"We inched our way back and that's what you have to do when you get behind like that early," Kuba said.

Jefferson used six pitchers, one an inning until sophomore Ben Koering was lifted with a sore shoulder in the fifth. Senior Sam Techau came in and pitched the final 3 2/3 innings and took the loss.

Both teams had eight hits. Jefferson's Jordan Dee had three hits and Tiedtke had two. Senior Christian Knox scored three runs and stole two bases. Jefferson had five stolen bases.

JEFFERSON (7)
Dylan Jellison, 2b-p, 5 0 0 0, Christian Knox, cf-2b, 3 3 1 0, Chance Tiedtke, lf, 4 1 2 2, Jordan Dee, 1b, 5 0 3 0, Austin Goodell, rf-p, 4 0 0 0, Alec McIntosh, pr, 0 0 0 0, Colten Jourdan, c, 3 0 0 0, Aaron Gruwell, cr, 0 1 0 0, Sam Techau, 3b-p, 3 1 0 0, Ky Kramer, ss-p, 3 0 1 0, Griffin Dietrich, pr, 0 0 0 0, Layne Sullivan, dh, 3 1 1 1, Spencer Van Scoyoc, p, 0 0 0 0, Dylan Wright, cf-rf, 0 0 0 0, Ben Koering, ss-p, 0 0 0 0, Hunter Kloubec, 3b, 0 0 0 0. Totals 33 7 8 3.

DAVENPORT NORTH (8)
Cooper Roehm, ss, 3 1 2 2, Ben Samuelson, 2b-p, 4 1 2 0, Jacob TeBrake, 3b-1b, 5 2 1 1, Zach Fries, c, 4 0 2 0, Chris Connell, cr, 0 1 0 0, Chase Roehm, p-3b, 4 0 1 1, Quilin Johnson, cr, 0 0 0 0, Jared Ringsdorf, rf, 4 1 0 1, Cory Elam, 1b, 1 1 0 1, Matt Grosskompf, pr, 0 0 0 0, Mitch Boever, 2b, 1 0 0 0, Nate Durand, cf, 3 1 0 1, Matt Heim, lf, 4 0 0 0. Totals 33 8 8 7.

Jefferson               120 022 000 -- 7  8  1
Davenport North    610 000 001 -- 8  8  3
(One out when winning run scored)

Van Scoyoc, Jellison (2), Goodell (3), Kramer (4), Koering (5), Techau (5) and Jourdan. Ch.Roehm, Samuelson (6) and Fries. W - Samuelson. L - Techau. 2B - TeBrake. SB - Knox 2, Dee, Gruwell, Techau, Co.Roehm, Samuelson.