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Sparta gets off to hot start at Legion Tourney

By Geary Deniston, For The Southern

Friday, July 18, 2008 11:39 PM CDT

MURPHYSBORO - Sparta's offense banged out 20 hits and its pitchers stranded 19 Steeleville baserunners to win 10-5 Friday. Post 396 advanced in the winners' bracket at the District 25 American Legion Senior Baseball Tournament at Chep Kessel Field in Riverside Park.

Sixth-seed Sparta (15-7) plays at 5 p.m. Monday against the winner of today's game between No. 1 Marion and No. 8 Pinckneyville.

"Our goal was to get into that winners' bracket because that is the key in a double-elimination tournament," Sparta coach Tim Sivels said.

Fifth-seeded Steeleville Post 480 (12-15) drops into the losers' bracket and will play the loser of the Marion-Pinckneyville game at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Every Sparta batter got at least one hit, with second baseman Dane Walter going 4-for-5.

"Today we had decent pitching and were very focussed at the plate," Sivels said. "We gave ourselves a chance by putting the ball into play and taking advantage of our opportunities."

Steeleville couldn't get a key hit when needed, leaving the bases loaded five times. Steeleville also couldn't take advantage of Sparta's generosity, as Post 396 committed five errors, issued 10 walks and hit three batters.

Shortstop Ross Cook and second baseman Jason Becker led Steeleville at the plate, each going 2-for-4.

"We just couldn't get the key hit," Steeleville coach Kevin Becker said. "I tried talking to the boys after the fourth inning to get them ready to hit, but they couldn't get the hit when we needed it. They need to learn from this game and be ready to get to get the hit with runners in scoring position."

Sparta drew first blood, scoring on a Tyler Jeffers double in the first inning. Steeleville tied the game in the second when Cook was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and two outs. Steeleville then left the bases loaded, something it did in each of the first four innings.

Sparta took a 4-1 lead in the third inning on a double by Clay Peck and a sacrifice fly by catcher John Wasson. Steelville got a run back in the fourth on a two-out bases-loaded walk to Jacob Mayer, but continued to leave many runners on base, which allowed Sparta to pull away in the final innings.