BASEBALL: Chapman, Hardin pitch Jr. Legion past Sparta
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Evan Chapman struck out eight batters and allowed just four hits and two walks against Sparta American Legion Post 396 on Wednesday as the Pinckneyville-Du Quoin Junior Legion Team (#1) manufactured enough offense for a 5-2 victory in the first game of a doubleheader at Rigdon Field.
P-DQ scored five runs on just five hits but also drew four walks off of Sparta pitcher Tyler Morrison, and a fifth off of his relief.
With the game tied at 2-2, Pinckneyville-Du Quoin jumped ahead with three runs in the sixth on RBI base hits by Travis Chapman and Hunter Queen.
Dylan Hardin (1-4, 2B, RBI), C.J. Opp (1-3, BB, R), T. Chapman (1-4, R, RBI), Justin Bumann (1-2) and Queen (1-2, R, 2 RBI) had the hits for Posts 2504 & 704. Justyn Rushing walked and scored twice.
The P-DQ Junior team took game two as well, with a 10-2 final score. Hardin threw four innings for the win, allowing only two unearned runs.
The Junior Legion's #1 team (3-3) will play at home again on Friday, hosting Perryville for a doubleheader beginning at 6:00 p.m.