Jackson one win from state tourney

After the first day of the Freshmen American Legion District 14 baseball tournament at Capaha Field, Jackson Post 158 finds itself in a good position to claim a berth in next week's state tournament in Branson, Mo.

Cape Post 63 has a little bit of work to do. And the Jackson 8th grade Legion team may face the most daunting task of all.

Jackson Post 163 defeated the Jackson 8th grade squad 12-1 in six innings in Monday's second game. That followed the 8th grade team's 12-6 victory over Cape Post 63 in the opener.

"We hit the ball real well today," said Jackson Post 158 coach Josh Adams. "We were able to knock out their starting pitcher in the second inning, and that was big for us."

Post 158 broke open a 1-1 ball game with five second-inning runs. Austin Bucher's two-run triple to deep right field highlighted a three-run fifth inning that pushed the score to 10-1 and, in the sixth, Landon Jinks belted an RBI double to the warning track in left, part of a two-run rally, to make it 12-1.

That proved to be more than enough for Post 158 pitcher Devon Blankenship, who set down the Jackson 8th graders in order in the bottom of the sixth and invoke the mercy rule.

Blankenship finished with a no-hitter, walking one and striking out one. The 8th grade team's only run came in the first inning on an error.

"Devon was a little off today, but then he started throwing strikes," Adams said. "It might have been a little bit of nerves. But once he got over that, he was fine."

Adams may have been a bit worried, especially after the Jackson 8th graders pounded Cape Post 63 for 12 runs in the opener.

"We've played (the 8th grade team) four, five times this year," Adams said. "We know they can hit the ball."

LEFT: Devon Blankenship hurled a no-hitter in Jackson Post 158’s 12-1 win Monday. ABOVE: Ben Maudie, right, of Post 158 congratulates Jake Edwards on his RBI groundout in the fifth inning. (Fred Lynch)

Jackson 8th grade coach Levi Petzoldt lauded Blankenship's effort.

"It was a heck of a game by Devon," he said. "They just did the little things right, and we did not. But I don't want to take any credit away from Devon."

Bucher reached base in all four at-bats for Post 158, going 2 for 2 with a triple, walking twice and scoring four runs. Triston Thele was 2 for 4.

In the opener, the Jackson 8th graders opened a 6-2 lead over Cape Post 63 after three innings before watching Post 63 rally within 7-6 in the top of the sixth inning.

But Tyler Knight rapped a two-run double to deep left field, sparking a five-run sixth inning that gave the 8th graders some breathing room at 12-6.

Jackson freshman American Legion's Jake Edwards runs to third base on a double by Ben Maudie during the first inning Monday, July 8, 2013 at Capaha Field. (Fred Lynch)

"Everybody competed as a group," Petzoldt said after the opener. "That game was one of the first times all year we played as a team. It wasn't just one guy."

The 8th grade squad also took advantage of several Post 63 errors in the field to either take extra bases or score. Post 63 committed five errors in the loss.

"I try to teach them to be aggressive," Petzoldt said. "Today, luckily, it went our way."

Post 63 coach Jeremy Smith agreed his team's errors proved tough to overcome.

"I think we gave them second or third chances too many times," Smith said. "Five errors are gonna hurt you no matter what level of baseball you're playing."

Jackson freshman American Legion's Jake Edwards, left, meets upcoming batter Ben Maudie after Edwards sacrificed to score Austin Bucher against Jackson 8th grade American Legion during the fifth inning Monday, July 8, 2013 at Capaha Field. (Fred Lynch)

He was happy with the way Post 63 bounced back after its early deficit.

"We have the toughness and mental ability to battle back in every game," he said.

They'll need to do that today. Post 63 faces the same 8th grade team in today's 1:30 p.m. elimination game, needing a win to remain alive. A loss would also drop the 8th graders out of the tournament.

Awaiting the winner at 4 p.m. will be Post 158. Should the Jackson freshmen team win, it'll clinch a state tournament berth. A loss by Post 158 to either Post 63 or the 8th grade team will force a championship game between those same teams Wednesday at 3 p.m.