Newton Post 20 Advances to Fifth Division Title Game

AVISTON -- Newton Post 20 advanced in the Senior Legion Fifth Division Baseball Tournament to the championship game with a victory Monday.

Newton defeated Salem Post 128, 12-5 and will now play in the championship game Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

Nick Cohorst, after a rough first inning where Salem sent nine men to the plate and scored five runs on three hits, settled down and threw zeroes the rest of the way. He had three strikeouts and scattered six hits. Salem's last hit was in the fourth inning.

Newton scored two in the first on a single by Zach Jansen and walks to Nate Meinhart and John Grunloh. Jansen scored on a fielder's choice. Meinhart stole home on a pick-off play on Paul Thoele at first.

In the third inning, Newton scored three times aided by five walks and several wild pitches.

Mason Conlin drove in two runs with a single in the fourth inning.

The five-run seventh was highlighted by a Meinhart triple and a Zach Stark two RBI double.

Newton Post 20 is now 19-3 on the season.

In the other games, Edwardsville Post 199 defeated Carmi Post 224, 9-4 and Aviston Post 1239 downed Orient Post 1961, 1-0.

Tonight's games feature Edwardsville Post 199 against Aviston Post 1239 at 5:30 p.m. The winner then advances to meet Salem Post 128 at 8. That winner then will take on Newton Post 20 at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday for the championship. A second game, if necessary, is scheduled for 8. The champion advances to the State Tournament July 28 in Alton.

Hits for Newton -- Jansen, single, double, 1 RBI; Meinhart, triple, 1 RBI; Wagy, 3 singles, 1 RBI; Grunloh, single; Thoele, single, 1 RBI; Stark, double, 2 RBI; Cohorst, single; Conlin, 2 singles, 2 RBI; Britton, 2 singles