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ALTON - Both John Kunz and Hayden Schepers had two hits apiece for Alton Post 126's senior American Legion baseball team, while Hayden LaPlant struck out six on the mound as the Legionnaires bounced back from a 1-2 showing at a tournament at Aviston over the weekend and defeated Elsberry, Mo. Post 226 4-1 in a game played Tuesday night, June 23, 2026, at Lloyd Hopkins Field in Gordon Moore Park.
Post 126 has now won three of its last five games and improved to 10-5 for the summer season.
Alton scored three runs in the first inning, and once in the fifth to take a 4-0 lead before Elsberry scored their lone run in the sixth, after which Alton took charge in the seventh and shut the door, taking the 4-1 win.
Schepers had two hits and an RBI for Post 126, while Kunz delivered two hits, Carter Watson had a hit and an RBI, and Abe Kribs came up with a hit. LaPlant went five innings on the mound to pick up the win, giving up an earned run on four hits, walking two, and striking out six, while John Kodros pitched the final two innings in relief, not allowing a run on one hit, walking one and fanning one.
The Legionnaires are now 10-5, and play in a tournament hosted by Washington, Mo. Post 218 this weekend, meeting Terre Haute, Ind. Post 435 Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m., then going up against Eureka, Mo. Post 177 right soon after at 5:30 p.m. Alton plays an opponent to be determined on Sunday at 3:30 p.m., then plays June 29 at home against Smithton Post +37 in a game that starts at 8 p.m., then plays at Aviston Post 1239 June 30 at 7 p.m.
