Jackson Senior Legion finds big innings to rally, defeat Eureka in zone tourney opener

The Jackson Senior Legion Post 158 baseball team got off to a slow start, but when it got rolling, it really got rolling.

Jackson pummelled Eureka 17-5 in seven innings in the opening round of the Zone 4 Tournament on Wednesday in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri.

Post 158 (24-8) trailed 5-1 after three innings but exploded with a 10-run top of the fourth to leap out in front.

“We won one game. It was good to win, but that’s about it,” Post 158 coach Mark Lewis said.

“I don’t want to get too big about one victory or anything, but it was a good comeback. Down 5-1, we put together some good at-bats.”

Paris Johnson stroked a bases-loaded double to center field to get the rally going, and Will Wininger scored on an error to put Jackson in front for good. Triston Thele then hit a grand slam to make things 11-5.

Any doubt was erased in the top of the sixth, as Post 158 tacked on another six runs. Colten Weber hit a two-run home run in the inning.

Eureka (23-8) jumped on top in the bottom of the first thanks to two singles and an error, taking a 3-0 edge.

Thele drove in Cameron Duke in the top of the second to cut into the deficit, but an error and control issues on the mound for Post 158 allowed Eureka to push two more runs across and go up 5-1.

Weber got the pitching victory for Jackson, striking out 14 in seven innings while giving up five runs (three earned) on four hits. He also walked six batters.

Thele was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and six RBIs, Duke was 3-for-3 with four runs scored, Wininger was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a run batted in and Drew Brown was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Sean Markley took the loss on the mound for Eureka. He lasted 3 1/3 innings, giving up 10 runs (three earned) on seven hits. He walked three batters.

Jackson will be back on the field Friday, taking on the winner of today’s matchup between Ste. Genevieve and Ballwin.

Jackson 010 (10)06 0 — 17 14 3

Eureka 320 000 0 — 5 4 4

WP — Colten Weber. LP — Sean Markley. 2B — Paris Johnson (J), Jake Burlison (E). HR — Triston Thele (J), Weber (J). Multiple hits — Jackson: Drew Brown 2-4, Cameron Duke 3-3, Thele 3-5, Wininger 2-4.