Post #2504 Edges Cross-County Rival
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Relievers Taylor Beninati and Garrick Hale each pitched out of bases loaded jams, securing Post #2504's harrowing 6-5 victory.
With the win, Pinckneyville (4-8) advances to play #1 seed Marion at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Du Quoin, 1-14, lost for the eighth straight time and falls into the elimination round, awaiting the Campbell Hill/Orient loser Saturday at 4 o'clock.
"We got behind 6-1 but the kids really responded to the challenge," Post #647 Manager Tim Craft said. "We don't have the best record but they haven't given up all summer."
The contest was scoreless until each squad scratched out fourth inning tallies. Post #2504 marked first, using a balk by Du Quoin starting pitcher
Garrett Hopkins during a double-steal to jump ahead 1-0.
In its half of the inning, Du Quoin evened things as Ethan Beasley walked and eventually scored when Post #2504 mound ace Matt Gill uncorked a wild pitch.
Hopkins, who whiffed seven batters in just five innings of work, ran into trouble during the fifth as Pinckneyville plated two unearned runs—both on infield miscues by Du Quoin.
Ahead 3-1, Pinckneyville scored three times against reliever David Brock in the sixth.
Post #2504 sandwiched an RBI single from Michael Rakers around two infield singles.
The five-run edge held up until the eighth, when Du Quoin touched Drew Dudek for four runs.
Brock and Matt Gossett had run scoring singles during the fray.
Jake Parnell (hit by pitch) and Jake Emling (bases loaded walk) accounted for the other two RBI.
With the bases loaded— and two out—Beninati entered the game and needed just one pitch to retire Nick Baskin.
Beninati's slow curve ball induce an infield pop-up, ending the threat and keeping Pinckneyville's 6-5 edge.
In the ninth, Hopkins worked Hale for a leadoff walk. Will Denton struck out, but Beasley singled safely to right field.
Collin Jones then reached safely to load the bases as Hopkins scurried back safely to third on a grounder.Hale recovered to whiff Parnell and Brock for the final two outs.
Winning pitcher Matt Gill worked the first six innings for Pinckneyville, fanning six and giving three hits. Hopkins (0-5) took the loss as Hale earned a save.
At the plate, Rakers and Matthew Nichols had two apiece for Pinckneyville. Thomas McConnell went 2-for-3 and Gill doubled.
For Post #647, Emling doubled for the lone extra basehit.
"This comeback should help us for Saturday, "Craft said. "We gave them three or four runs and didn't make some plays when we needed them."
Pinckneyville assistant coach Alan Engelhardt said Nichols would be the likely starter against Marion, which boasts a sparkling 26-2 record.
Craft didn't indicate who Du Quoin's starting hurler would be.
Outfielder Seth Flint left Thursday's game early, rolling an ankle during a fourth inning at-bat. Craft said he's expected to play Saturday.
Engelhardt admitted Marion presents a huge challenge for Pinckneyville's young squad.
"They have a lot of older kids who are coming off their first year of college baseball," he said. "And we have a roster full of first-year legion kids. That makes it kind of tough when you are so young."
The tournament is being played on Chep Kessel Field at historic Riverside Park Stadium.
JUNIOR DISTRICT
By virtue of its 7-5 win over Sparta Thursday, Post #2504 claimed its first Junior 25th District title and now advances to play Belleville at 10 a.m. Saturday in Trenton.
Clay County will also advance to the Fifth Division.
After winning its first three district games and reaching the title round, Clay County elected to forfeit the title to the Sparta/Pinckneyville winner.
Pinckneyville (Post #2504) 6,
Du Quoin (Post #647) 5
#2504 000 123 000—6 9 0
#647 000 100 040—5 6 3
Gill, Dudek (7), Beninati (8) and Rakers, Dudek (8). Hopkins, Brock (6) and Jones. WP—Gill. LP—Hopkins. SV—Hale. THITTERS—Post #2504: Dudek 0-4, Gill 1-5 (2B), Hale 0-4, Thornton 1-4, Beninati 0-0, McConnell 2-3, Chandler 0-3, Shopinski 1-4, Rakers 2-4, Nichols 2-4. Post #647: Baskin 1-4, Hopkins 0-4, Denton 0-4, Beasley 1-1, Jones 1-4, Flint 0-2, Parnell 0-3 (RBI), Brock 1-3 (RBI), Gossett 1-4 (RBI), Emling 1-3 (2B).
"They have a lot of older kids who are coming off their first year of college baseball," he said. "And we have a roster full of first-year legion kids. That makes it kind of tough when you are so young."
The tournament is being played on Chep Kessel Field at historic Riverside Park Stadium.
• JUNIOR DISTRICT
By virtue of its 7-5 win over Sparta Thursday, Post #2504 claimed its first Junior 25th District title and now advances to play Belleville at 10 a.m. Saturday in Trenton.
Clay County will also advance to the Fifth Division.
After winning its first three district games and reaching the title round, Clay County elected to forfeit the title to the Sparta/Pinckneyville winner.
Pinckneyville (Post #2504) 6,
Du Quoin (Post #647) 5
#2504 000 123 000—6 9 0
#647 000 100 040—5 6 3
Gill, Dudek (7), Beninati (8) and Rakers, Dudek (8). Hopkins, Brock (6) and Jones. WP—Gill. LP—Hopkins. SV—Hale. THITTERS—Post #2504: Dudek 0-4, Gill 1-5 (2B), Hale 0-4, Thornton 1-4, Beninati 0-0, McConnell 2-3, Chandler 0-3, Shopinski 1-4, Rakers 2-4, Nichols 2-4. Post #647: Baskin 1-4, Hopkins 0-4, Denton 0-4, Beasley 1-1, Jones 1-4, Flint 0-2, Parnell 0-3 (RBI), Brock 1-3 (RBI), Gossett 1-4 (RBI), Emling 1-3 (2B).