CAROL STREAM - Brody Short came up with three hits and two RBIs, while Liam Spencer threw a complete game on the mound as Jerseyville Post 492 won its first-round game of the Illinois state junior American Legion baseball tournament 11-7 over Illiana Post 679 of West Dundee Thursday afternoon, July 23, 2026, in Carol Stream, in suburban Chicago.
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The win advances the Panthers to the winner's bracket semifinals, and a game at 3 p.m. on Friday.
Jerseyville scored in every inning of the game, scoring two runs in the first, single runs in the second and third, two more runs in the fourth, a single run in the fifth, and two runs in both the sixth and seventh, while the Patriots scored all seven of their runs in the bottom of the sixth to throw a scare in Post 492. Still, the Panthers recovered to put the game away 11-7 and advance to the next round.
Short led the way for Post 492 with his three hits and two RBIs, while Caden Crimmins had two hits and two RBIs, Justice Drainer had two hits and an RBI, Luke Vanausdoll had a hit and an RBI, both Issac Hackethal and Logan Dabbs came up with a hit each, and Jagger Young drove in a run. Spencer went all the way on the mound to gain the win, allowing seven earned runs on seven hits, walking two and fanning five.
Post 492 advances to the winner's bracket semifinals and awaits the winner of Carrier Mills Post 364 or Champaign Post 24 Friday at 3 p.m. The winner goes on to the winner's bracket final Saturday at 12 noon against host Carol Stream Post 76, Paris Post 211, or Patoka Post 543, with the loser relegated to the loser's bracket for an elimination game Saturday at 10 a.m. The finals are set for Sunday at 11 a.m, and 1:30 p.m. if necessary.
