EDWARDSVILLE - Nolan Pichee led the way with three hits and two RBIs, while Auggie Landuyt came up with two hits and two RBIs, with both players being the catalysts as the Alton Post 126 junior American Legion baseball team came from behind with a nine-run seventh to defeat the Extreme Elite under-16 baseball club 10-7 in the Play 9 tournament Sunday morning at Plummer Park in Edwardsville.
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The come-from-behind win was their fourth in the last eight games, and they are now 13-9-1 on the season.
Extreme Elite took the lead in the bottom of the third inning with four runs to go ahead 4-0, but the junior Legionnaires struck back in the fourth with a single run to make it 4-1. Extreme Elite then scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to up the lead to 6-1, but Post 126 exploded with their nine-run top of the seventh to take a 10-6 lead. Extreme Elite then scored a single run in the bottom of the seventh, but it was too little, too late as Alton took home the win 10-7 to advance in the tournament.
Pichee led the junior Legionnaires with his three-hit, two-RBI showing, while Landuyt had two hits and two RBIs, Fletcher Groppel had a hit and two RBIs, Zach Thornton came up with a hit and an RBI, Chris Rayfield, Max Laird, and Kaden Witsken all had a hit apiece, and Clayton McCormick drove home a run.
Will McCormick started on the mound and was credited with the win, going 4.2 innings and allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits, walking two and striking out two. Groppel came on and earned the save, pitching the final 2.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on two hits, walking three and fanning two.
