S'ville SR. legion splits doubleheader

<p class="p1">STEELEVILLE -- Steeleville Senior Legion Post 480 flexed its offensive muscles in the first game, but couldn't find the holes in the second in a 9-0 and 4-1 doubleheader split with Marion on Tuesday.

<p class="p1">In the first game, Steeleville broke open a 1-0 game with a five-run fifth inning, highlighted by a grand slam by Kasey Wilson to right-center field.

<p class="p1">Marion pitcher Braydon Simich had corralled the Steeleville offense for most of the first four innings - allowing the single run in the second - but gave up a RBI ground rule double to Brett Bunselmeyer to start the scoring in the fifth.

<p class="p1">After Luke Hartman struck out looking, Simich walked Nic Hagel to load the bases with two outs. Wilson then deposited a 3-1 pitch beyond the fence for a 6-0 lead.

<p class="p1">"Kasey's been a good hitter for us," said Steeleville coach Bill Grafton. "He's been real relaxed at the plate and seeing the ball real well right now.

<p class="p1">"He's been coming through for us again and again."

<p class="p1">Wilson finished 2-for-4 for Steeleville, while Jake Compton (3-for-4), Dylan Brasil (2-2) and Bunselmeyer (2-5) also recorded multiple hits for Post 480..

<p class="p1">Dylan Brasil got the win on the mound, allowing only three hits in the complete game victory.

<p class="p1">"I want the kids to enjoy the fact that they've been winning and the winning has been coming from being more competitive in their appearances at the plate and in the field," Grafton said. "They're getting deep in the count and forcing the pitcher to throw seven, eight, nine pitches and that helps give them the confidence to be successful."

<p class="p1">In the nightcap, Marion jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Steeleville plated a run in the fifth before Post 147 added the insurance tally in the seventh.

<p class="p1">Cody Eggemeyer took the loss for Post 480, striking out 14 batters while allowing only three hits.

<p class="p1">"Cody pitched a really good game," Grafton said. "He deserved to win that game."

<p class="p1">Bunselmeyer led Steeleville at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance, while Hagel (2-3) and Andrew Grafton (2-2) also had multiple hits for Post 480.

<p class="p1">"I changed the lineup a little bit and moved some kids around," Grafton said. "We hit the ball hard, but we were hitting them right at people.

<p class="p1">"We had opportunities, just couldn't get runs across."

<p class="p1">Steeleville fell to 6-10 overall and 4-6 in the American Legion's 25th District standings. Post 480 was scheduled to play a single game with Pinckneyville-Du Quoin on Wednesday before beginning the four-team Harold Harmsen Wood Bat Classic on Saturday against Orient at 7 p.m.