Jackson Senior Legion cruises past Sikeston in 4 1/2 innings

The pitching the Jackson Post 158 American Senior Legion team faced in its first game of a doubleheader against the Sikeston Post 114 Silver Sox on Wednesday night in Jackson wasn't expected to be an easy matchup for the Jackson hitters.

Post 158's knowledge of their weakness led to plenty of success at the plate, though, as Jackson rolled to a 14-0 victory in 4 1/2 innings.

"We knew coming in that he was going to be a soft-tossing lefty, which usually that's our kryptonite," Post 158 third baseman Cameron Duke said of Sikeston pitcher Nathan Hampton. "But today we were able to sit back, drive the fastball and then either sit back and drive the curveball or wait for the fastball. We did really well today."

After being retired in order in the bottom of the first, Jackson's offense put up a nine-spot in the second, which was all the offense it needed.

Landon Mills reached on a misplayed grounder at short to lead off the bottom of the second for Jackson.

Ben Maudie followed with a single that dropped in front of the right fielder, and Duke drove in the winning run with a base hit to right. Tristan Burdette made it 3-0 with Jackson's third straight hit to right.

Wyatt Eldridge ripped a two-out double into left to drive in a couple more runs before Ryan Harvey made it 6-0 with a base hit.

Harvey stole second and advanced to third on a single by Mills, and both scored on a double back up the middle off the bat of Maudie. Duke drove in the final run of the inning with a single to center.

Jackson Legion Post 158's Gavon Turner delivers in the third inning of the first game of a double-header against Sikeston Post 114 Silver Sox, Wednesday, June 24, 2014. (Laura Simon)

"The only thing that we say offensively is we've got to score one more than the other team," Post 158 coach Mark Lewis said. "Some days it's one run, some days it's nine. Don't really pigeon-hole it to one set number. Come up to have good at-bats and work to get ahead -- that's the biggest thing."

Post 158 added four runs in the third. Burdette and Jake Edwards each singled, and Tyler Howard was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Jarrett Newell and Wyatt Eldridge each hit an RBI sac fly to right to extend the lead to 11-0.

Harvey singled to right and two runs scored on a hit by Mills that got post the right fielder.

"We've been seeing a lot more lefties in Legion ball so we knew to go up and have the approach to put the ball away as much as possible," Maudie said. "In that case, we had an approach at the plate and succeeded on it."

Jackson's final run of the game came in the bottom of the fourth after Edwards led off with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Howard double off the glove of the left fielder.

Post 158 starting pitcher Gavon Turner allowed four hits in his shutout of the Silver Sox. He didn't walk a batter and had four strikeouts.

Jackson Legion Post 158's Jake Edwards tags out Sikeston Post 114 Silver Sox baserunner Jordan Kluesner in the fifth inning of the first game of a double-header, Wednesday, June 24, 2014. (Laura Simon)

Turner had some help from his defense. After allowing his first hit of the game to start the third, Duke made a leaping snag on a hard-hit ball at third and threw to first for the second out.

Sikeston only had one base runner reach scoring position in the game. Trent Pobst singled with one out in the top of the fourth, advanced to second on a wild pitch and stole third before being stranded.

"I don't know if he felt as good about his fastball as normally but his other two pitches were working well," Lewis said of Turner. "The curveball from the second inning on was good and the changeup was working well for him. Locating the fastball he was just OK -- I think he would tell you that, too."

Jackson and Sikeston had played earlier in the season with each team winning a game 6-5 in the doubleheader.

"Well, compared to where we started -- we didn't start very good because we were still disappointed about school ball. But you can't hang your hats, and we're starting to come around," Maudie said, noting the Jackson Indians' season ending in a Class 5 state quarterfinal. "We didn't start out too good, but we're starting to get on track again."

Post 158 is scheduled to play in a tournament in Festus this weekend.

"We've got a lot of work to do still," Lewis said. "We're not all the way there. We're not a finished product. We're still moving guys around trying to figure out what fits where and all that stuff."

Sikeston Post 114 000 00 -- 0 4 2

Jackson Post 158 094 1X -- 14 14 0

WP -- Gavin Turner. LP -- Nathan Hampton. 2B -- Wyatt Eldridge (J), Ben Maudie (J), Tyler Howard (J). Multiple hits -- Jackson: Edridge 2-4, Ryan Harvey 2-4, Maudie 2-2, Cameron Duke 2-2, Tristan Burdette 2-3, Jake Edwards 2-3.