Effingham Post 120, Newton Post 20 to Meet For District Title

NEWTON -- Effingham Post 120 and Newton Post 20 came through weekend competition and will meet for the championship of the American Legion District Tournament.

Newton Post 20 opened with an 8-5 win over Olney Post 30. Olney jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Newton then tallied two in the third, three in the fourth, one in the fifth and two in the sixth.

Nick Cohorst was the winning pitcher, getting four strikeouts in three innings of work.

Noah Wagy and Zack Stark had two singles and two RBI each.

In the second contest, Robinson Post 69 downed Effingham, 9-3. Robinson had a five-run seventh to put the game away.

Braydon Burtch was the winning pticher going 5 2/3 innings with 10 strikeouts.

Robinson took the early lead in the second inning. In the bottom of the third, Effingham tied the score at 2-2. Cody Grove drove in one run when he singled.

But Robinson took the lead for good with a run in the fourth on an error then tallied five in the seventh.

Along with his single, Grove hit a home run in the seventh.

Effingham then started its comeback, Post 120 downed Olney 12-8 in the final contest Saturday.

An early lead helped Post 120. Blake Lohman drew a walk, Brett Koester followed with a double and Ryan Sandifer hit a sacrifice fly that scored a run. Cody Grove drew a walk and Joe Kabbes homered, scoring three runs.

Koester finished with a double, home run and four RBI while Sandifer had a single, double and an RBI, Kabbes, a double and a three-run homer and Lohman a double and an RBI.

In Sunday action, Newton pounded Robinson, 14-1 in five innings via the 10-run rule.

Paul Thoele and Zack Stark combined for a two-hitter.

Noah Wagy had a home run and an RBI while Mason Colin had a double and two RBI, Paul Thoele two singles and two RBI and Zack Stark two singles and four RBI. Nate Meinhart finished with three singles.

Effingham then completed its comeback with a 14-2 win over Robinson. Joe Kabbes was the winning pitcher and also had two singles and two RBI. Kabbes went five innings allowing six hits, two runs while striking out four.

Effingham got on board in the first inning. Kabbes singled on the first pitch of the at-bat, scoring two runs.

Effingham scored six runs in the third. Bryce Lohman hit a grand slam home run. Dylan Guy had two singles and two RBI and Ballman and a single and three RBI.

Effingham Post 120 meets Newton Post 20 today at 5 p.m. for the championship. Effingham will have to win twice to take the title. A second game is set for 7:30 p.m. if necessary.

District Tournament

Game One

Newton 8, Olney 5

WP -- Cohorst.

Newton Post 20 -- Meinhart, single, 1 RBI; Wagy, 2 singles, 2 RBI; Grunloh, single, 1 RBI; Thoele, single; Stark, 2 singles, 2 RBI; Conlin, 1 RBI

Olney Post 30 -- Flanagan, 2 singles; Jones, single; Mays, 2 singles, double, 2 RBI; Stevens, 2 singles, 2 RBI; Doll, single

Game Two

Robinson 9, Effingham 3

WP -- Burtch. LP -- Lohman.

Effingham Post 120 -- Ballman, single; Wall, 2 singles, 1 RBI; Kabbes, single; Grove, 2 singles, home run, 2 RBI; Standifer, single; Bishop, double

Robinson Post 69 -- Burkett, single; Wesner, 2 singles, 2 RBI: Weber, double, 1 RBI; Meese, 2 doubles, 2 RBI; Newlin, single; Johnson, single, 1 RBI

Game Three

Effingham 12, Olney 8

WP -- Guy. LP -- Adams.

Effingham Post 120 -- Koester, double, home run, 4 RBI; Sandifer, single, double, 1 RBI; Wall, single; Grove, 1 RBI; Kabbes, double, home run, 2 on), 3 RBI; Ballman, single; Koester, single; Lohman, double, 1 RBI

Olney Post 30 -- Flanagen, double; Mays, double, home run, 2 RBI; Pride, single; Doll, single, 2 RBI; Bradley, double, 1 RBI; Adams, home run, 1 RBI

Game Four

WP -- Stark. LP -- Davis.

Newton Post 20 -- Jansen, single; Meinhart, 3 singles; Wagy, home run, 1 RBI; Grunloh, single, 1 RBI; Thoele, 2 singles, 2 RBI; Stark, 2 singles, 4 RBI; Cohorst, 2 singles; Conlin, double, 2 RBI; Britton, single, 2 RBI

Robinson Post 69 -- Burkett, home run, 1 RBI; Hale, single

Game Five

Effingham Post 120 14, Robinson 69 2

WP -- Kabbes. LP -- Newlin.

Effingham Post 120 -- Ballman, single, 3 RBI; Wall, single; Koester, single; Kabbes, 2 singles, 2 RBI; Guy, 2 singles, 2 RBI; Lohman, home run, 4 RBI; Lohman, single; Bishop, single

Robinson Post 69 -- Hale, single; Weber, single; Meese, single; Burtch, single; Newlin, single, 1 RBI; Johnson, single