An MVHS rally in the bottom of the seventh, however, prevented Tonganoxie from securing its first Kaw Valley League victory of the season.

Tonganoxie held an early 3-0 lead, but the Jags rallied and took the lead at 4-3.

The Chieftains responded in the top of the seventh with two runs of their own, but THS couldn’t hold on in the bottom of the seventh.

Senior pitcher Josh Putthoff, who pitched into the seventh, walked the first batter he faced. Kirk Rodell came into pitch in relief, but couldn’t put the Jaguars away.

“I felt good about the fact that we came back in the top of the seventh,” THS coach Andy Gilner said.

Game 2 was a different story.

The Jaguars scored in each of the first three innings and held a 7-0 lead heading into the fourth. MVHS tacked on another run in the fifth.

Jacob Herrstrom started the game at pitcher for THS as Todd Brown pitched in relief beginning with the fifth inning.

Tonganoxie strung together three doubles in the sixth courtesy of Daniel Volk, Kirk Rodell and John Volk. That drew THS back to within six at 8-2, but the late-inning hitting couldn’t save the Chieftains.

“We just have to hit the ball where they’re not,” Gilner said. “And we’re not doing that.”