BASEBALL: #1 Juniors sweep younger #2's behind Hardin's no-no
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[In a classic David-versus-Goliath setting, Pinckneyville-Du Quoin American Legion Posts 2504 & 647's two Junior baseball teams met up on Saturday for a youth-meets-experience doubleheader, and it was the #1 Junior squad sweeping both games, but not without being tested.
The elder Junior squad took the hard-fought opener walk-off style 6-5 before returning to shut down the younger group 9-0 in game two behind an outstanding no-hit performance on the mound by Dylan Hardin.
Holding nothing back, coach Alan Engelhardt elected to go with All-SIRR pitcher Evan Chapman against the #2 Juniors in game one after the all-star game Chapman was scheduled to appear in that afternoon was postponed.
Chapman appeared to be well in control, not allowing a single hit through the first four innings while racking up six strikeouts for the #1 Juniors, a team made up primarily of athletes who will be entering their junior or senior year of high school this fall. Chapman's counterpart on the hill wasn't backing down, however.
Camden Mercier also got through the first four innings scoreless for the younger #2 team, a group made up mostly of soon-to-be freshmen and sophomores.
Just when runs seemed to be at a premium, something happened in the top of the fifth inning - the younger #2 team started making contact. Brendon Shepard singled, Caleb Dahn drew a walk, then Nolan Luke was safe on a sacrifice bunt attempt to load the bases up for Chase Lazenby with no outs.
Lazenby drove in the game's first run with a single, then Colton Nelson followed with another RBI base hit to make it 2-0. Chapman got Adam Banach to strike out, but with the bases still full, Brian Taylor lined a double to clear the bags for a 5-0 lead.
Dustin VanMeter walked and scored in the bottom of the fifth for the #1 squad, then Chapman settled down and got a 1-2-3 sixth to wrap up his day of work on the mound trailing 5-1.
Two walks and two errors later, the #1 Junior team had climbed back into it. Hunter Queen singled to drive in a run with one out to complete a three-run bottom of the sixth, then Mercier escaped further damage for the #2's with a strikeout and flyout.
John Goodrich took the mound for team #1 to retire the side in order in the top of the seventh, then Mercier was given a chance to finish what he started in the bottom of the inning for team #2. E. Chapman walked to lead off the inning, bringing Taylor to the mound to try and save the game.
Luke Chapman singled, Chaz Ruffino walked, then Zach Phillips grounded into a fielder's choice that resulted in an out at the plate. With one down and the bases loaded, VanMeter drew a free pass to tie the game, then Hardin reached on an error to bring the winning run across for Pinckneyville-Du Quoin's #1 Juniors.
Both teams managed just five official hits in the game. For #1, it was Queen leading the way with a 2-for-4 day (3B, RBI). Goodrich (1-4), Travis Chapman (1-4) and L. Chapman (1-3, BB, R) had the other hits.
E. Chapman ended up with 9 strikeouts, but it was Goodrich's scoreless seventh that earned the pitching victory.
For Team #2, Taylor (1-3, 2B, 3 RBI), Shepard (1-3, R), Luke (1-3, R), Lazenby (1-3, R, RBI) and Nelson (1-2, BB, R, RBI) accounted for the hitting.
Game two saw none of the drama that the opener had. Instead, Hardin fired a 9-0 no-hitter and allowed just one walk as Junior Team #1 cruised past #2 in six innings before the game was called due to lightning in the area.
Junior Team #1 returns to the field on Wednesday, hosting Chester at 6:00 p.m. for two while Team #2 is back at it on Monday, traveling to Steeleville for a 6:00 p.m. doubleheader.
The Senior team's scheduled game at Vandalia/Jerseyville on Sunday was postponed.
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