American Legion: Harrisburg Post 167 roughs up Carmi at district tournament
Don't look now, but Harrisburg Post 167 might be playing its best baseball of the summer season - and it couldn't come at a better time.
Entering the 24th District Tournament as the No. 3 seed, Harrisburg knocked off No. 4 seed McLeansboro 12-2 Saturday and then thanks in large part to a seven-run fourth inning, Harrisburg knocked off No. 1 seed Carmi 12-3 Sunday.
The win over Carmi Post 224 makes Harrisburg 2-0 in the double elimination tournament and they will now play Metropolis on Monday night at Frontier College, slated for an 8 p.m. start.
With FNB Park as its canvas, Harrisburg painted a near masterpiece Sunday afternoon.
Post 167 jumped all over Carmi starter Evan Kiefer in the fourth inning, chasing Kiefer after 3 2/3 as he gave up seven runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Brody Walker started the inning off reaching on an error and late stole second. Josh Turnage then walked and that followed a Cameron Wendler bunt attempt that resulted in another error for 224, scoring Walker. Ethan Ashby then walked and Kale Oglesby reached on a Fielder's Choice, as Turnage was forced out at home. Jordan Gould then flied out to center field, scoring Wendler to make it a 4-3 game with two outs.
But Harrisburg kept pouring it on.
Austin Hefner singled past third to score Ashby and Dallas Reynolds singled to left field to score Oglesby. Carmi went to the bullpen, pulling Kiefer for Andy Brinkley. Justice Hill smacked a two RBI double to score Hefner and Reynolds and Walker reached on an error again, scoring Hill.
From there, Harrisburg tacked on one more run in the last three innings to come away with the win.
Gould reached on an error in the fifth, scoring Oglesby who previously walked. Hill ripped a solo home run in the sixth and in the seventh, Ashby's double to left field scored Wendler.
On the bump, Dalton Lambert picked up the win. Lambert gave head coach Cody Hall five quality innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, while striking out eight and walking three on 98 pitches.
Brinkley, who relieved Kiefer in the fourth, went 1/3 of an inning, allowing one hit and one strikeout. Cooper Wells finished the game off for Post 224.
At the plate, Gould had three singles, scoring one run and driving in two. Hefner and Hill each had multiple hit games as Hefner drove in three and scored one, while Hill had a double and a home run with three RBI and two runs scored. Walker, Wendler and Ashby each hand an RBI, while Wendler and Oglesby both scored three runs.
Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Register, Eldorado Journal & The Gallatin County Democrat. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.