BASEBALL: Legion Juniors split at Salem
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Pinckneyville-Du Quoin American Legion Posts 2504 & 647's top Junior squad split a doubleheader at Salem on Thursday, losing the first game 6-5 thanks mostly to six errors committed on defense before winning the second 2-1 behind a complete game from Justin Bumann.
"We really shot ourselves in the foot in the first game, commiting 6 errors, which led to 5 unearned runs," said Junior Legion Team #1 head coach Alan Engelhardt. "We hit the ball with a lot more authority, we struck out 10, and we only gave up 3 hits into the outfield, yet we lost 6 to 5."
Burris threw all six innings of the first game, allowing one earned run on six hits with 10 strikeouts. Luke Chapman led the offense, coming a home run short of the cycle with his 3-for-3 (2B, 3B, R, 2 RBI) showing at the plate. Dylan Hardin (2-3) and Bumann (1-2, RBI) also had hits in game one.
Bumann allowed just two hits in the nightcap, surrendered no earned runs, struck out three and picked up the win.
Hardin (2-4, RBI), Burris (2-3), John Goodrich (2-3) and Justyn Rushing (1-3, 3B, R) led the offense.
"We saw a lot of off-speed stuff at bat, and when we had success, we were willing to hit the slow stuff to the opposite field and pull the inside pitch," Engelhardt said. "We need to be more consistent in that process, but we are starting to make progress in the right direction."
"I think our pitching is getting better every time out, so hopefully we can continue to get better swinging the bat and making plays in the field."
Pinckneyville-Du Quoin's #1 Juniors (14-7) have called off Saturday's scheduled home game due to injuries and a number of players playing in the SIBCA All-Star game. Instead, Posts 2504 & 647 will travel to Steeleville on Sunday to play at 1:00 p.m. before the Senior squad's 5:00 p.m. game in the Harold Harmsen Wooden Bat Classic.