Steeleville eliminates Chester from Junior League American Legion tournament
STEELEVILLE -- This time, there were no late-game drama for Steeleville.
Post 480 got to Chester pitcher Nick Meyer early, tagging him for five runs in the first inning, and Steeleville ended Chester's season with a 11-3 win in the loser's bracket of the 5th Division American Junior Legion Baseball Tournament on July 22.
Clay Herrell took over for Meyer in the second inning, and gave up two more runs for a 7-0 Steeleville lead entering the third.
"We did not get a good start," said Chester assistant coach Mike Heffernan. "We dug ourselves a bit of a hole and they had solid pitch and we couldn't get (Steeleville pitcher Jordan Wilson) deep in the count."
Wilson gave up all three of Chester's runs, but only allowed three hits through three innings. He was replaced by Jacob Sutton in the bottom of the fourth after Chester scored two runs off an error to cut the deficit to 7-3.
Wilson made up for it a half-inning later, hitting a two-run single with the bases loaded to extend Post 480's lead to 9-3.
"When we did hit the ball, it was right to them and when they hit the ball it was right between us," Heffernan said. "It was tough to come back from."
Steeleville added two runs in the top of the sixth for the final score.
"I felt the difference was our approach at the plate and I think we did a good job of looking for a pitch to hit," said Steeleville coach Jacob Wente. "We had guys who had a good approach and were ready to play."
The teams faced each other for the third time this season, with both previous contests decided by a single run. Steeleville and Chester faced off in the quarterfinals of the 25th District tournament a week ago, with Post 480 beating Post 487, 6-5.
"I knew that in an elimination game like that, you've got to be ready to go and our guys did a great job of moving on to that evening," Wente said.
Steeleville (22-3) advanced to play Effingham in the evening session and took a 4-3 win in eight innings to keep its season alive. Pitcher A.J. Stearns went seven full innings for Post 480, allowing four hits and three walks while striking out three.
"It was one of the best baseball games I've seen at any level for a long time and I can't say enough about our kids," Wente said.
Rory Lutz came on in the eighth and earned the save. Jacob Sutton led Steeleville at the plate with a 2-4 performance, including a two-run single in the eighth.
"It was really fun to be a part of that game and a great group of kids on both sides," Wente said of the win over Effingham. "and we're thankful to play another day."