Jackson Legion edges by Cape

The Jackson Post 158 Senior American Legion baseball team has proven to be the class of District 14 so far this year.

Upstart Cape Girardeau Ford and Sons Post 63, while not sporting nearly as gaudy a record as Jackson, has improved significantly since the start of the season.

Those factors made for quite a district battle Tuesday night at Legion Field in Jackson.

Jackson's offense was stymied much of the way but did just enough late and then held off a Cape rally to claim an exciting 5-4 victory in the opener of a doubleheader.

"It's always good to squeeze out a win. We could have made it look better," winning pitcher Steven Eddy said.

Post 158 completed a sweep by winning the non-district nightcap 11-1.

Jackson, the defending District 14 tournament champion, improved to 23-4 overall and 5-0 in district play.

Cape fell to 14-13 overall and 2-3 in the district. Post 63 has lost all four meetings against Jackson this summer, including 10-2 and 12-0 on June 4 in Cape Girardeau.

"It's what we keep preaching, just get better every game," said Cape coach Justin Lieser, commenting on how far his squad has come since the start of the season. "Jackson is an excellent team but we played one of our better games."

Jackson was held to one hit through five innings by Cape starter Josh Morse. But Post 158 manufactered two runs without a hit in the third inning and carried a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth.

"He did a great job. We didn't get to him," Jackson's Kyle James said of Morse.

Jackson Post 158 pitcher Steven Eddy notched his second win over Cape Post 63 during Tuesday’s first game. (Adam Vogler)

Jackson exploded for five hits in the bottom of the sixth -- all ground-ball singles that found holes -- to score three runs and go ahead 5-1.

"I didn't think we had very good swings. Their kid did a good job," Jackson coach Mark Lewis said. "But those runs in the sixth inning were big."

Vital, in fact, after Cape put a major scare into Jackson during Post 63's final chance in the top of the seventh.

A leadoff error got things started and made all three runs in the frame unearned.

After the error, Eddy issued his only walk of the game. Calvin Lovig's one-out RBI single made it 5-2.

Then came perhaps the key play of the contest, a defensive gem that might have kept Cape from at least tying things later in the inning.

With runners on first and third, Cambron Womack sent a ground ball up the middle that looked like it would sneak into center field for a hit.

But second baseman Kelby Brown ranged far to his right and backhanded the ball several feet behind the bag. Brown, almost in one motion, flipped the ball with his glove to shortstop Laban Petzoldt for a force out.

A run came in on the play, but Jackson had a crucial second out.

"That flip out of the glove, that was a huge play," Lieser said.

But Post 63 wasn't finished.

Trevor Propst's bad-hop single -- it bounced way over the head of third baseman Cody Harris -- extended the inning and pinch-hitter Alex McRaven delivered an RBI single to make it 5-4.

Eddy was relieved by Collin Herzog, who walked Cam Grueninger to load the bases.

Cordon Hight then lined a shot to Petzoldt at shortstop as Herzog earned a save.

"We hit that ball well but right at them," Lieser said. "That's the game of baseball. Some days they find holes for you."

Eddy allowed eight hits and four runs, one earned, in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out three, walked one and hit a batter.

"I thought he did well," Lewis said.

Eddy notched his second win over Cape this season.

"I was throwing good except my curve wasn't working," said Eddy, who said he had to rely primarily on his fastball and changeup.

Eddy said he wanted to finish the game but couldn't quarrel with the result.

"I guess it was the right call. It worked out," he said with a smile.

Jackson's three sixth-inning runs came with two outs. James had the big blow, a two-RBI single that finished off the uprising. Petzoldt added an RBI single.

Post 63's two third-inning runs -- one unearned due to an error -- came after Morse walked the first two batters, who both came around to score.

Post 158 pulled off a double steal in the frame, with Lane Thompson swiping home.

Morse took the loss, allowing six hits and all five runs -- four earned -- in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out one and walked four.

"He was fantastic," Lieser said. "Getting him to pitch like that gives us another arm we can go to."

J.C. Chapman, arguably Cape's staff ace, struck out the only batter he faced to end the sixth inning.

Lovig, Womack and Propst each had two of Cape's eight hits. Lovig and Womack doubled for the only two extra-base hits of the game.

Grueninger added an RBI with a sixth-inning sacrifice fly for Post 63's first run.

"I thought we hit the ball pretty well against a very good pitcher," Lieser said.

Six different players accounted for Jackson's hits.

Jackson then romped in the nightcap that ended after 4 1/2 innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.

Herzog came back to notching the pitching victory. Womack suffered the loss.

Jackson outhit Cape 11-5. Cody Heisserer led Post 158 by going 3 for 3 with a walk, a double and four RBIs.

Steven Porzelt and Jordan Hadden added two hits apiece for Jackson.

Cape had split a doubleheader at Blytheville, Ark., late Monday night, losing the opener 3-2 and taking the nightcap 10-9. Lovig was the winning pitcher.

Jackson is right back in action today, visiting district opponent Sikeston for a 6 p.m. doubleheader.

Cape competes in the Paducah (Ky.) tournament beginning Thursday.