Top Dodgers: Dunklin County clinches top seed in district tourney

SENATH, Mo. -- After a midseason slump, the Dunklin County Post 303 Dodgers seem to be bouncing back at just the right time.

The Dodgers capped a 7-1 homestand with a sweep of District XIV foe Jackson Post 148, winning the all-important opener 6-5 before rolling 12-2 in the nightcap.

With the win, Dunklin County (32-7, 7-1 XIV) locks up the No. 1 seed in the district tourney, which begins here on Thursday.

"I think it's important to be the No. 1 seed, but now it's tournament time and everybody's record is wiped," DC manager Jamie Johnson said. "Now you've just got to go play baseball games and win them."

The Dodgers are seeking their third straight district championship.

Monday night, Post 303 got a strong pitching performance in the opener from Aaron McCaig, who held Jackson to just one earned run and pitched out of a major jam in the top of the seventh inning.

Post 148 turned a pair of errors into three unearned runs and almost erased a four-run deficit, but McCaig recovered to strike out the final two batters and lock up the No. 1 seed.

"I thought Aaron did a good job of mixing up his pitches tonight," said Johnson. "He really beared down in some situations and made good pitches."

After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first inning Monday, the Dodgers bounced back in the bottom of the inning as Parker Watkins doubled with two outs and scored on Aaron Booker's base hit, then Booker scored on a double from Jonathan Boone to cap the rally.

"Jonathan has done a great job for us this summer," Johnson said. "Not only on the mound, (but) he's hit for us all summer. His average is over .450. He's another solid stick in the lineup and a strong competitor."

Dunklin County added another run in the bottom of the third when Joe Campbell singled and scored on a Watkins sacrifice fly, then the Dodgers scored twice in the fourth inning -- once on a Cale Weeks solo homer and again when Dylan Lynn came home on Kaleb Canoy's grounder, making it 5-1.

After Post 148 scored in the top of the fifth to make it 5-2, Joe Campbell singled in Austin Jackson in the bottom of the sixth to provide what proved to be a huge insurance run.

"That's a big at-bat there," said Johnson. "You don't really realize how big that at-bat is until the seventh with a one-run lead."

Campbell had two hits to pace the Dodgers' attack.

Kendall Fay led Jackson with two hits.

Monday's win capped a strong weekend for Post 303, as the Dodgers split with Blytheville, Ark. on Saturday before taking a pair of forfeit wins from district foe Poplar Bluff on Sunday.

"It's nice to have some games here at home and to be able to play those games late in the summer at home," Johnson said. "I think it gives us some momentum going into the district tournament."

Against Blytheville, Dunklin lost the opener 5-1 before bouncing back with a 2-0 shutout in the nightcap on a three-hit shutout from Boone.

The Dodgers are off until Friday, when they play the winner of Sikeston and Poplar Bluff at 8 p.m. in a district tournament game.

"I just anticipate a great tournament down here," said Johnson. "I think it's going to be a battle. Who knows who will come out of it? ... Any of these teams are capable of it. That's why it's going to be such a fun tournament."

Dunklin County is the top seed, while Cape Girardeau is the second seed, followed by Jackson, Poplar Bluff and Sikeston.

Bluff and Sikeston face off to open the tournament on Thursday at 5 p.m., while Cape takes on Jackson at 5 p.m. on Friday.

The tournament continues on Saturday and Sunday, with a winner-take-all game on Monday at 6 p.m. if necessary.

"I think this year the field is pretty even," Johnson said. "There's not a lot of difference in any of the teams. I anticipate it to be a battle -- it'll be a war. Hopefully we'll come out on the right end of it. It comes down to playing good baseball at the right time."