Pinckneyville beats Sparta for Junior Legion District 25 title
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[CJ Opp started things off on the mound for Pinckneyville in the first. Sparta took an early 1-0 lead with singles from Zack Ferguson and Jordan Thompson. Kyle Wall would drive Ferguson home with a deep single to right center for an RBI. Sparta would leave runners stranded. Pinckney-ville would return the favor and steal the lead by adding two runs with help from a double by Adam Barczewski scoring teammate Brandon Long and stealing home later on. Brad Thorton did get a single but would be left on base as Sparta's Kyle Wall would retire the next three batters with two strikeouts and help from the defense at his back.
In the second, both teams struggled at bat. Sparta had missed opportunities from their opponents errors but left runners stranded.
It wasn't until the third when Sparta would take back the lead temporary with a single hit from Kevin Prest driving home Thompson. The next pitch would go in the dirt and find Ferguson taking home raising the score by two. Pinckneyville would regain their lead by adding four runs in the bottom of the inning with contributions from Adam Barczewski, Steve Bruggemann, Brad Thorton, Howard Kelley, CJ Opp and Hunter Queen.
In the fourth, both pitchers shut down any advances with their skills at the mound. Opp would retire 1 of 3 while Wall deliver 3 k's.
In the fifth inning Sparta added two more runs, closing the gap by two with plays from Darius Jackson, Jordan Thompson and Zack Ferguson. Ferguson would steal 2nd base but get out at 3rd base on a steal. Pickneyville would change pitchers handing over the mound to Hunter Queen. Sparta would leave runners stranded to close out their at bat. Pinckneyville would score their last run with a Bryant Shute RBI bring the score 7-5.
In the remaining two innings, tough defense by both teams was a key role in any chances to increase the score for either team. Pinckneyville would keep their lead and end the game in the seventh with fly-outs to right center. Pickneyville would advance to Division playoffs held in Trenton.
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