Jackson Post 158 Jr. Legion begins defense of district title today

Even though the Jackson Junior Legion baseball team won district, state and regional championships a year ago, Post 158 coach Shelby Kight knows those achievements carry no weight when his team begins District 14 tournament action today at Capaha Field.

Post 158, the two-time defending district champion, has earned the top seed by compiling an 8-2 record against the three district opponents but will need at least three more wins to reach the upcoming zone tournament in St. Louis.

Jackson will face fourth-seeded Sikeston at 2 p.m. today. Second-seeded Sikeston and third-seeded Advance will open the double-elimination tournament at noon.

"There will be nothing given to us this year. We'll have to earn our own way," said Kight, whose team went 2-0 to win last year's district tournament, then received an automatic bid to the state tournament by merit of hosting -- not winning -- the zone tournament.

Post 158 avenged a pair of zone losses to Eureka at the state tournament, part of an 8-1 finish that claimed both the state and regional titles.

"Last year we learned every single pitch matters, especially in postseason," Kight said. "You can't take any plays off."

Last year's team took a 28-5 record into district play, before finishing with a 39-8 record.

Jackson has just one player, pitcher/third baseman Dalton Hovis, returning from that decorated team and carries a 21-10 record into this year's district tournament, which has four teams -- one more than a year ago when Post 158 received a first-round bye.

"It's a whole new crop of kids," Kight said. "The kids I have this year had lot of success as freshmen. They competed at the state tournament and are no strangers to the postseason."

The Post 158 freshman team won its district a year ago, which gave them automatic entry into the state tournament in Washington, Missouri.

Kight's junior squad lineup this year has four batters hitting around .400 in center fielder Tyler Knight, shortstop Drew Brown, first baseman Brayden Emmons and catcher Braeden Dobbs.

"They are two very different teams," Kight said about last year's regional champions and this year's edition. "Last year our strength was pitching and defense. This year our hitters are up there with anybody around. This year our pitching and defense will have to step it up to move on."

Jackson took three of four games against both Sikeston and Post 63 during the regular season and won both its games against Advance.

Today's winners will meet in the winner's bracket final at 6 p.m. Thursday, with the winner of that game gaining a berth in the championship game at 6 p.m. Friday. If required, an if-necessary championship game will be played at 8 p.m. Saturday.

"We're looking forward to a very competitive tournament," Kight said.