METROPOLIS – The Alton American Legion Post 126 won their first two games Friday and Saturday in the Illinois Fifth Division junior baseball tournament in Metropolis.
The junior Legionnaires defeated West Frankfort 9-3 in their opening game Friday evening, then advanced in the double-elimination tournament with a 6-2 win over Steeleville Saturday night. The top three teams in the tournament are assured berths in the state tournament, which gets under way Thursday.
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Alton will meet the winner of today's Sparta-Metropolis game, scheduled for 12;15 p.m., at 7 p.m. today.
In Friday's win, Simon Nguyen had a two-RBI triple in the fourth to break open a close game as part of a 2-for-3 effort; Adam Stilts also went 2-for-3 and Ben Mossman had two hits for Alton. Ryan Best got the win, with Rylee Bernot finishing up. Bernot got the win in Saturday's game, with Zaid Wilson getting a two-run double and Nguyen adding a two-run triple; Wilson closed out the game on the mound for Alton.
Here are the results and remaining schedule for the entire tournament:
FRIDAY, JULY 22
Game 1: Valmeyer 8, Pickneyville 2
Game 2: Steeleville 7, Olney 2
Game 3: Alton 9, West Frankfort 3
Game 4: Metropolis 13, Effingham 7
SATURDAY, JULY 23
Game 5: Salem 14, Valmeyer 4
Game 6: Olney 9, Pickneyville 8 (eight innings; Pickneyville eliminated)
Game 7: Valmeyer 5, Effingham 4 (Effingham eliminated)
Game 8: Olney 16, West Frankfort 6 (West Frankfort eliminated)
Game 9: Alton 5, Steeleville 2
SUNDAY, JULY 23
Game 10: Salem vs. Metropolis, 12:15 p.m.
Game 11: Steeleville vs. Valmeyer, 2:30 p.m. (elimination game)
Game 12: Salem-Metropolis loser vs. Olney, 4:45 p.m. (elimination game)
Game 13: Alton vs. Salem-Metropolis winner, 7 p.m.
MONDAY, JULY 24
Game 14: Steeleville-Valmeyer winner vs. Salem, Metropolis or Olney (Game 12 winner), Time TBD
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