Greg Jelks, the first-year manager of the Wild Things, isn't playing the numbers game as the season winds down and teams are jockeying to reach the playoffs.

Asked what his team must do to qualify for the postseason, the smiling Jelks answered: "Win games."

The Wilds Things are 43-42 after an 8-0 loss at Evansville last night. They are in third place in the East Division of the independent Frontier League with 12 games remaining. The top two teams in each division will advance, along with the next two teams with the best records.

"We're playing good baseball right now, but not our best baseball," Jelks said. "I love the way the defense plays. Teams have to beat us because we don't beat ourselves. This team doesn't die; they're always battling."

The Wild Things have rebounded from an 0-6 start to the season when rain played havoc with their schedule and practices.

"It rained 15 of our first 17 days," he said. "We had to do a lot of work inside, and it took us a while to loosen up. We've been able to get back into the [playoff] mix because a number of players have stepped up."

Designated hitter Jacob Dempsey is the team's leading hitter with a .313 average, 16 home runs and 77 RBIs.

"I never knew he could put up these kind of numbers," Jelks said of Dempsey, who was released by the New York Yankees and didn't play last season after spending 2006 with Batavia in the New York-Penn League. "I haven't seen a guy sit out a year and come back to do what he's done. It's very impressive."

The Wild Things also have gotten solid hitting from outfielders Chris Sidick (.303, 8 homers and 31 RBIs) and Tim Alberts (.311, 8 homers and 33 RBIs). Alberts didn't join the team until late June after college ended.

The pitching staff also has been solid, led by Aaron Ledbetter (9-6, 4.68 earned-run average), Michael Schellinger (9-5, 3.90) and J.J. Hollenbeck (5-4, 3.88).

"They keep you in games every time they go out there," Jelks said. "They always give you a chance to win."

He said this has been a season of learning and adjustment for himself and his players.

"I've very much grown as a manager," he said. "I think they know more about me, and I know more about them. We're learning together."