Parity reigns in Senior American Legion district tourney

Three Senior American Legion baseball squads boasting at least 24 victories highlight the District 14 tournament that begins Friday in Sikeston, Mo.

And one of them is relegated to the last seed for the four-team, double-elimination event -- an indication that the tournament is up for grabs.

"I think it is wide open," Jackson coach Mark Lewis said. "The talent level is pretty close. The key is who comes and plays well."

Cape Girardeau Ford and Sons Post 63, Dunklin County Post 303 and Jackson Post 158 have combined for a 75-30 record. Host Sikeston has just five wins but is dangerous.

"All of the teams are pretty solid," said Cape coach Todd Pennington, whose squad is the two-time defending district champion. "I think all four teams can win it. It should be a good tournament."

The winner earns a berth in next week's Zone 4 tournament, which Cape already has qualified for since it is hosting the five-team event for the second straight year.

If Cape three-peats as district champion, then the runner-up also will qualify for zone play.

Friday's first-round pairings feature second-seeded Cape (26-11, 4-2 district) against third-seeded Sikeston Post 114 (5-15, 1-5) at 5 p.m. and top-seeded Dunklin County (25-8, 6-0) against fourth-seeded Jackson (24-11, 1-5) at 8 p.m.

Friday's winners meet at 1 p.m. Saturday, followed by Friday's losers at 4 p.m. and the losers bracket final at 7 p.m.

The championship is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, and an if-necessary title contest would follow at 4 p.m.

While Dunklin County did not lose a district game and is riding a seven-game winning streak, the squad did suffer nondistrict losses to both Cape and Jackson.

Jackson is having a strong season overall but did not fare well in district play. Post 158's loss at Sikeston on Monday dropped it to the last seed for the tournament based on run differential after the clubs split their two district matchups.

"We've had a good season so far," Lewis said.

Cape, despite not having the normal tournament pressure due to already being assured a zone berth, doesn't want to back into that event.

"We're playing to win like we would if we weren't," already in the zone, Pennington said.

Perennial power Dunklin County claimed district crowns in 2007 and 2008 before Cape won it the past two years.

A high-profile pitching matchup likely will take place between Dunklin County and Jackson in the opening round.

Dunklin County is expected to throw Tyler Thompson while Jackson figures to counter with Brett Thomas. Both pitchers signed with Division I college programs Arkansas State and Missouri, respectively.

"There's a lot of good pitchers in the tournament," Lewis said. "I look for some really good ballgames."