Jackson Senior Legion hopes third time is the charm at zone tournament

Almost every time Jackson Senior Legion Post 158 coach Mark Lewis has been asked what he expects heading into a game this summer, he's replied with the same answer.

That answer is his team will go out and play well, and the rest will take care of itself.

"That's always my mentality because I don't want to put it on one certain thing," Lewis said. "You go in and you can only control what you do; not worry about what the other team has done or is going to do."

That mentality has proven successful for Lewis and the rest of the Post 158 squad, which won its third consecutive district championship last weekend.

Post 158 (34-7) defeated Cape Ford and Sons Post 63 by a 10-9 score in the championship game of the District 14 tournament.

Jackson will begin play in the double-elimination Senior Legion Zone 4 tournament when it takes on Rock Memorial Post 283 at 4 p.m. today in Festus, Missouri. Post 158 split a doubleheader with Rock Memorial earlier in the season.

If Jackson wins, it will advance to the winner's bracket and take on Ballwin Post 611 at 7 p.m. today.

Lewis said consistency and a bevy of returning players puts his team in a great spot to win. Ten of the 16 Post 158 players have been a part of the three district championship teams.

"Experience-wise, it's always big to have players that have been there and done that for us," Lewis said. "It's been a long time coming for this program. It didn't happen overnight, and we would really like to keep building off the success."

Second baseman Ryan O'Rear is in his fourth season with Post 158 and has earned the role of the team's captain.

"I feel real confident with the guys we have and even with who we have coming off the bench that this is our year to do it," O'Rear said. "This is a solid team and we're still taking that one game at a time mentality, but we're also thinking it could be our year to get over that hump."

Post 158 made it to the championship of the zone tournament last year before losing to Eureka Post 177 4-3.

In 2012 Post 158 defeated Dunklin County Post 303 4-3 in the first game but was shutout in its next two games.

On Monday and Wednesday, Post 158 met at Whitey Herzog Field in Jackson to take batting practice and work on defense.

"We're just trying to keep sharp," Lewis said. "We work on everything. We're going to hit a little bit, field a little bit and just keep ourselves going."

Post 158 has scored 45 runs in its last four games. O'Rear, who had five hits in those four games, said he's never been on a team that can score so many runs.

"You just look up and down the lineup and no matter who is up you can say, 'Hey, he's got a good shot of getting a hit,'" O'Rear said. "That's pretty special to have, and that's why we're out here today. We want that to stay fresh and consistent. Sometimes a few days off can hurt you, so we have to keep hitting so we'll stay in that state of mind."

O'Rear said offense isn't everything, and it's actually defense that he believes will help his team win.

Post 158 made just one error in the district tournament and only committed eight all season, according to Lewis.

"We work on the same thing every day -- hitting and defense," O'Rear said. "But right now it's got to be defense that we focus on. Defense wins championships, so we've really got to tune that up."

Post 158 starting pitcher Michael Houchins will be looking to his defense to back him up when he takes the mound for the opener today.

Jackson Senior Legion starter Michael Houchin throws to a Sikeston Legion batter during the first inning Monday, June 23, 2014 in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

Houchins pitched a complete game and earned the win in a 9-1 victory over Post 283 in the first game of their doubleheader earlier this season.

Houchins struck out four and only gave up five hits but said he would have given up more if not for the defense.

"The first time around we won because of our defense and we may not be here without them," Houchins said. "They kept me In that game and hopefully they continue to play well behind me."

Houchins also said that Post 158 would have to continue scoring runs in early innings, something they've done all year.

"Even if we have a lead we know we need to keep pouring it on," Houchins said. "If my guys get me a lead I can do my part, and we'll make quick work of it."

Lewis doesn't care who Post 158 is playing. The only thing he's worried about is making sure his team sticks by the mentality of taking it one game at a time.

"The records don't matter, averages don't matter and the runs don't matter," Lewis said about the regular season. "This tournament is like a new season, and we'll look at it the same way we do every game. We want to win one at a time and keep winning until there aren't anymore to win."