STEELEVILLE - Ryan Lowis had three hits and four RBIs, while John Kunz had three hits and three RBIs, and the combination was enough to help Alton Post 126's Senior American Legion baseball team advance to the Illinois State Tournament with a decisive 10-0 win over Orient Post 1961 in the loser's bracket final of the Fifth Division tournament Sunday afternoon, July 19, 2026, in Steeleville.
Alton is now 19-11 on the season and will open up the state tournament against Danville Post 210 at noon Wednesday afternoon, July 22, 2026. A win advances Post 126 to a semifinal game against either Carol Stream Post 70 or Galesburg Post 285 Friday at noon, while a loss will relegate the Legionnaires to the loser's bracket, where they will play the Carol Stream-Galesburg loser Thursday at 5 p.m.
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With the Sunday win, Post 126 advanced to the finals against the Aviston Post 1239 Express, but as Aviston will be hosting the state tournament this week, thus earning an automatic berth, both the Express and Legionnaires agreed not to play the final series, allowing Post 126 to qualify for the state tournament.
It was all Alton in the loser's bracket final, scoring once in the first, four times in the second, twice in both the third and fourth innings, and once in the fifth to take the 10-0 win, the game ending by way of the 10-run rule.
Lowis had three hits and four RBIs for the Legionnaires, while Kunz picked up three hits and three RBIs; both Abe Kribs and Jayce Steinkuehler had two hits and an RBI each, and both John Kodros and Colt Sievers had a hit apiece. Landon Sitze threw a five-inning complete game on the mound, not allowing a run on only two hits, while walking three and striking out eight.
The state champions will advance to the Great Lakes regional Aug. 5-9 in Lexington, Ky., with the regional winner moving on to the 101st American Legion World Series Aug. 13-18 in Shelby, N.C.
