Newton Post 20 Advances in Fifth Division Tourney

AVISTON -- Newton Post 20 captured two victories during weekend action at the Senior Legion Baseball Fifth Division Tournament hosted by Aviston Express Post 1239.

Post 20 came away with a 3-2 win in nine innings over Steeleville Post 480 Saturday. Nate Meinhart drove in Nick Cohorst with a two-out walk-off single over the centerfielder's head in the bottom of the ninth.

Cohorst picked up the win, working two scoreless innings. John Grunloh started the game going 5 2/3 innings, striking out four and scattering five hits and giving up a run.

Newton scored a run in the first after a Noah Wagy double, a couple of walks then a Zach Stark single drove in Wagy. Steeleville tied in the third on a walk, stolen base and a single.

Newton took the lead in the fifth when Meinhart walked and scored when Wagy doubled. Steeleville tied the game in the top of the seventh on an unearned run and an infield single.

Newton scored three runs on eight hits while Steeleville had seven hits.

In other Saturday contests, Salem Post 128 defeated Orient Post 1961, 4-1 and Aviston Post 1239 downed Carmi Post 224, 7-1.

The win advanced Newton to face Aviston Post 1239 Sunday.

Post 20 was down 4-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh against Aviston. Mason Conlin led off with a single. With one out, Zach Jansen drew a walk. Meinhart drove the first pitch down the left field line to score pinchrunner Kendall Fergusen and Jansen. Meinhart advanced to third on the throw home. After two intentional walks, Paul Thoele hit a shot at the third baseman that he couldn't handle to score Meinhart from third for the winning run.

Aviston jumped on top in the secind inning scoring a run on three hits. Newton answered back with a run in the second with three singles and a fielder's choice ground ball by Zak Finn.

Aviston went ahead in the fifth with two runs. Newton again came back in the bottom of the inning. Ben Britton led off with a single, Jansen sacrified him to second and Meinhart hit a slow roller in the hole between short and third. The throw to first got away to score Britton on an error.

Aviston made it 4-2 in the top of the seventh.

In other games Sunday, Salem Post 128 edged Edwardsville Post 199, 2-1 while Carmi Post 224 blanked Steeleville Post 480, 2-0.

Today's games feature Newton against Salem at 8 p.m.  in winner bracket action. In the loser bracket, Edwardsville takes on Carmi at 3 followed by Orient against Aviston at 5:30. The tourney continues Tuesday and finishes out with the championship game Wednesday. The winner advances to the State Tournament, hosted in Alton, Saturday.

Senior Legion Baseball Fifth Division

Game 2

Newton -- Meinhart, single, 1 RBI; Wagy, 2 doubles, 1 RBI; Grunloh, single; Thoele, single; Stark, single, double, 1 RBI; Conlin, single

Game 5

Newotn -- Meinhart, 2 singles, double, 2 RBI; Grunloh, 2 singles; Thoele, single, 1 RBI; Stark, single; Cohorst, single; Finn, 1 RBI; Conlin, single; Britton, single