CARBONDALE � Harrisburg Post #167 shook off a slow start, and cruised to a 14-5 win over Carmi Post #224 to earn a spot in the championship game of the 24th District Senior American Legion Tournament.
Post #224 jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead after a half inning, but Post #167 scored one in the bottom of the first and six more in the second to grab a 7-3 lead.
Trailing 8-3 in the fifth, Carmi tallied two to cut it to 8-5, but Harrisburg answered with four in the bottom of the fifth and two more in the sixth for the final margin of victory.
A game featuring 19 runs had several sparkling defensive plays, including Carmi’s Cole Blazier’s running grab to rob Braden Clark of a bases loaded extra base hit to end the fourth. Then Harrisburg’s Andrew Bittle made a great catch of Brandon Skaggs� long foul ball in the fifth, before crashing over the wall.
In game two, Fairfield Post #176 beat McLeansboro Post #106 10-3 in an elimination game. With the win, Fairfield advances to another elimination game Wednesday at 5:00 against Carmi. The winner advances the championship game against Harrisburg immediately after.
The tournament was rained out Monday. They moved the games to the turf at SIU’s Itchy Jones Stadium Tuesday. Wednesday’s action will be back at Gibbs Field in Harrisburg.
