Not often does a player who bats eighth in a baseball lineup lead a team in batting average.

That’s the case with the Raiders, however. No. 8 hitter Jake Green paces the city’s Legion team in hitting with a .377 average.

“Jake can hit in the middle or top of the lineup,” Raiders coach Shaun Edmondson said, “but he’s done a nice job down there.”

And with most of the Raiders owning batting averages above .300, there’s little reason to elevate Green, the club’s catcher, in the order.

The Raiders will take a .331 team batting average into the three-team Legion Zone 2 tournament today and Saturday at Ice Field.

Curiously, the Raiders (26-17) are the No. 2 seed, meaning they’ll meet third-seeded Tonganoxie (6-16) at 5:30 p.m. today in the tourney opener. The winner will meet No. 1 seed Atchison (21-7) at 8 p.m.

The state-qualifying double-elimination tourney will continue on Saturday with games scheduled at 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m., also at Ice Field.

Despite the two-seed, the Raiders will be heavily favored to advance to the State Legion tourney next weekend in Pittsburg.

Green leads the way, but first baseman Joe Kornbrust is close behind with a .370 average. Next is shortstop Hunter Scheib at .357, followed by outfielder Travis Sanders .352, second baseman Aaron Rea .351 and third baseman Clint Pinnick .340.

Bringing up the rear are center fielder Matthew Abel at .336 and designated hitter Ben Wilson at .330. But Abel leads the team in stolen bases (42), runs (35) and RBI (38), while Wilson is the home run leader with seven.

The Raiders’ pitching, except for ace Caleb Gress, has been spotty, however.

Gress, who owns a 5-3 record and a glossy 2.87 earned-run average, will start the Raiders’ second tourney game. Tom Schuh, another left-hander, will open against Tongie.

Right-hander Drew Hulse (7-2, 5.40 ERA) is scheduled to be on the mound in the third game. Also available are Travis Spurling (6-3, 5.48) and Kornbrust.

“We have five quality arms to try to get through the zone and to state,” said Edmondson, who stresses he isn’t concerned about the staff’s bloated 5.85 ERA.

“Competition has a lot to do with that,” the Raiders’ coach said. “We could have stacked our schedule to have a lower ERA, but that’s not the mission. It’s to prepare for the zone and for state.”

All zone tournament games are scheduled for nine innings.