Jackson Post 158 Senior Legion disposes of district rival Cape in seven innings

After Tuesday's game at Capaha Field, Jackson Post 158 stands alone as the outright No. 1 seed in next month's District 14 Senior Legion Tournament.

Colten Weber finished 3-for-4 at the plate and didn't allow an earned run in securing the win on the mound, leading Jackson to a 14-4 victory in seven innings over district rival Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons Post 63.

"They're doing a good job working the counts and not just swinging at anything," Post 158 coach Mark Lewis said. "They were dialed in tonight. Tomorrow's a different day, so we'll see what comes with it. But it was good today."

Jackson (11-6, 2-1 District 14) hammered out 15 hits in the win, including 13 from four hitters in the top five of the order.

Jackson Legion Post 158's Nathan Hurst makes his way to third base during the third inning against Cape Ford and Sons Post 63 Senior Legion Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at Capaha Field.Glenn Landberg

"We had some good approaches all day," Lewis said. "I was excited about that. They did a good job."

Post 158's Nathan Hurst finished 3-for-5 and scored four runs, including one in the top of the first when he reached on a dropped third strike, made his way to third on a single by Cameron Duke and scored on a delayed steal to give his team a 1-0 advantage.

A two-out, two-run single by Drew Brown, who went 3-for-5 with a double, and another successful delayed steal allowed Jackson to build a 4-0 lead in the top of the second before it blew the game open in the top of the third, adding five runs on six hits and a wild pitch.

Facing a 9-0 deficit with one out, Cape (15-9, 1-1) was forced to go another route on the mound, as coach Justin Lieser lifted starter JT Moore in exchange for Kaleb Ward.

"Give credit to them. They worked some good at-bats," Lieser said. "We missed the location on a couple pitches that they took advantage of."

Ward retired the next two batters to end the threat, and Post 63 cut into its deficit in the bottom of the frame. Cramer McGarr reached on an infield single with one out before stealing second and third and scoring on an ball that was booted at third.

Post 158 extended its lead to 11-1 in the top of the sixth with a two-run double by Weber, and Cape temporarily staved off the mercy rule with a two-out rally in the home half of the inning.

Brown -- pitching in relief of Weber -- issued consecutive walks to Garrett Dix and Nicholas Lindsay before McGarr, who finished 2-for-3 in the nine-hole, delivered a three-run double that trickled to the corner in left field, pulling Post 63 within 11-4.

The rally started after Weber appeared to end the sixth when he fielded a grounder at shortstop, but he held off from the routine force out after his cleat got caught in the dirt. The Dallas Baptist commit laid writhing on the ground for several minutes before a pair of teammates helped him off the field.

Cape Ford and Sons Post 63 Senior Legion's Nicholas Lindsay throws the ball to the infield during the third inning against Jackson Legion Post 158 Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at Capaha Field.Glenn Landberg

"I think he just kind of lost his footing and twisted it a little bit," Lewis said about Weber, who appeared to be walking without pain after the game. "I think he's OK, but I'm not a doctor. So we'll send him and get it checked out just to make sure all the nuts and bolts are in the right place."

A two-run triple to right-center by Nathan Hurst and an RBI double by Duke, who led his team with a 4-for-5 outing, increased Jackson's lead to 14-4 in the top of the seventh, and Zach Elfrink entered in the bottom of the frame to retire Cape in order and enact the mercy rule.

"I liked the way we fought and battled and were able to still put up a few runs here and there, but overall, we need to be better all around," Lieser said. "It's not just one guy. ... We just didn't play well today. They out-pitched us, outhit us and out-defended us. If you get beat in those three things, you're not going to win many ball games."

Weber struck out six batters, walked three and allowed three hits and an unearned run in 4 1/3 innings of work. He was pulled in favor of Brown after throwing 86 pitches. Brown went 1 2/3 innings and scattered three runs -- all earned -- on two hits with one strikeout and three walks.

"I thought [the performance] was good," Lewis said about Weber on the mound. "He mixed pitches well, had all four pitches kind of working and kept them off balance. He did a really good job."

Jackson Legion Post 158 Nathan Hurst lays out in an attempt to catch a fly ball during the fourth inning against Cape Ford and Sons Post 63 Senior Legion Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at Capaha Field.Glenn Landberg

Moore was tagged with the pitching loss, allowing nine runs -- seven earned -- on nine hits with three strikeouts, two walks and a hit batter. Ward issued a walk but didn't allow a hit in 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, while Collin Prather threw the final two innings for Cape, giving up five runs -- all earned -- on six hits and walking one batter.

Post 63 also fell behind early in its previous game, a 14-5 loss Saturday against Jefferson County Slam, and Lieser said his team needs to move on heading into today's game against Festus, which begins at 7 p.m.

"We knew the impact of this game and its importance, but at the same time, we can't worry too much about this one," Lieser said. "It's in the past, and if we're worried about this game tomorrow, Festus is going to get us."

Jackson returns to action at 6 p.m. Friday with a doubleheader against visiting Blytheville, Arkansas.

In Post 158's two district wins against Cape and Sikeston, it has won by a combined score of 28-7 in 14 innings, and Lewis hopes his team can continue its offensive success.

"I think the focus is just going up and having good at-bats. That's really all we talk about," Lewis said. "We're not re-inventing the wheel there. That's what a lot of coaches talk about. We were able to do it tonight."

Jackson 135 002 3 -- 14 15 1

Cape 001 003 0 -- 4 5 1

WP -- Colten Weber. LP -- JT Moore. 2B -- Drew Brown (J), Cameron Duke (J), Weber (J), Cramer McGarr (C). 3B -- Nathan Hurst (J). Multiple hits -- Jackson: Duke 4-5, Brown 3-5, Hurst 3-5, Weber 3-4; Cape: McGarr 2-3.