Slow-starting Indians build momentum

JACKSON, Mo. -- At Jackson High School, where football, wrestling and basketball grab much of the attention, the baseball program has played the role of the changeup in the sports repertoire.

It's lacked a little zip in the passion department.

"The thing about here, we just don't take baseball real serious, in my opinion, compared to football and other sports," Jackson coach Sam Sides said. "You're always fighting that attitude a little bit. They're football players that play baseball, or basketball players that play baseball. You don't get that many kids that are just dedicated to baseball."

In a seven-game winning streak, Jackson (10-5 overall, 5-3 SEMO Conference) sent a message that it's trying to remedy that perception. It can take an even bigger step when the second SEMO Conference Baseball Tournament begins today.

Jackson, the fourth seed, will play a first-round game against fifth-seeded New Madrid County Central at 4:15 p.m. Friday at Capaha Field.

The Indians, who saw their streak end with a 7-3 loss Monday to Central, enter as one of the conference's hotter teams.

Jackson opened the season 0-2 and stood 3-4 after consecutive losses to Anna-Jonesboro, Ill., and the tournament's top seed, Notre Dame, games in which the Indians were outscored 29-10.

But the Indians regrouped for a 10-9 victory over Sikeston, the tournament's third seed.

"That was real big because they're usually one of the strongest teams in the area," said senior Josh Parham, who leads the team with a .438 batting average. "We were at a low point, but then beating them kind of changed everything for the better."

Jackson proceeded to reel off six more wins by a cumulative 63-16 score, including a win over Dexter, the second seed. The streak was capped by a surprisingly easy 16-3 romp past Farmington, a usually a strong contender in the Indians' district. Jackson didn't make an error in the final three games of the streak.

"We really saw what we could do when we won seven games in a row," Indians catcher Brad Berry said. "We know how we can play and we expect that when we go out and play."

Berry is second to Trevor Thompson (17 RBIs) with 15 RBIs and handles a staff that has been throttling opponents as of late.

Parham leads the team with a 3-0 record on the mound and junior Austin McDowell (3-3) has come on strong and leads the team with a 3.19 ERA after not playing much as a sophomore.

"We realized we could play with anybody," McDowell said of the Indians' streak, the longest at the school in years. "We can do a lot this year."

McDowell has demonstrated the dedication to baseball that Sides seeks, but doesn't always find.

He spent time throwing during the offseason and participated in St. Francis Medical Center's athletic acceleration program, which tailors strength training to particular sports. The result has been added velocity for the right-hander.

Berry has been around the varsity program since his freshman year and likes the attitude of this year's team.

"We seem more dedicated," Berry said. "Maybe last year we may have had a little more talent, and the year before we might have had a few more arms, but this year we seem more on the same page and going for the same goal. We all just want to win championships so we can actually be known for something."

Added Sides, "We've probably got as many baseball oriented kids as we've had in a while."

Parham and McDowell are among five Indians who have logged at least eight innings.

"I'd like to play everybody every day," Sides said. "We'd be in good shape. I can throw six guys and they're all about the same."

The Indians have also averaged almost eight runs a game and average .311 overall. Along with Parham, Jake Carter (.386), Thompson (.327) and Matt Gordon (.313) are also hitting over .300.

Parham said the reversal in the season has the Indians anticipating the conference tournament.

"A lot of people around here don't think of Jackson as much as much of a baseball powerhouse or anything like that, but we want to show people what we can do," Parham said.

jbreer@semissourian.com

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