LEGION ROUNDUP: Travelers maintain tourney mastery

With three tournament crowns already under their belt, the Post 642 Travelers began the Springfield Tournament with the swagger of a champion.

Just three days after capturing the Sedalia-Warrensburg Tournament, the Travelers cruised to a pool-play  sweep on Wednesday with a 13-2 win over Republic in the morning and closing out the day with a 12-3 win over the Missouri Buccaneers.

Dominique Smith (6-1) and Bryce Johnson once again set the tone on the mound with complete games.  Smith struck out eight and allowed two earned runs on four hits and four walks while Johnson  struck out seven and allowed two earned runs on seven hits.

The offense provided ample run support in each win.

Highlighted by multi-hit games from Drew Hutinger (2-for-3), Jared Hagedorn (2-for-2), Johnny Eierman (2-for-3) and Dylan Mays (2-for-2), the Travelers (29-3) logged nine hits, walked five times, reached base on two hit batters and capitalized on four Republic errors on their way to a comfortable run-rule victory in the morning contest.

Mays led the hit parade with a two-run homer in the first inning, a two-run single in the second and a sacrifice fly in the third. Hutinger, Hagedorn and Eierman provided strong support with three RBIs each.

In the nightcap, the Travelers logged eight hits, walked 10 times and capitalized on three errors by the Buccaneers to erase an early 2-0 deficit. Despite zero extra-base hits, the Travelers executed small ball to a T.

Three of the base hits were bunts as Cody Holt, Ivan Pyszka and Hagedorn accounted for the team’s five RBIs. Holt and Hagedorn brought two runs in each and Pyszka accounted for the final run.

The Travelers next face Greenwood, Ark., at 2:30 p.m. in Republic for first place in their pool.

JUNIOR LEGION

Benton County Black Sox 17, Sedalia Post 642 9

Aaron Pitts shut out Sedalia over the final three innings to close out the Black Sox’s six-inning run-rule victory in the second game of a doubleheader Tuesday at Liberty Park Stadium.

The win completed a sweep for  Benton County, which won the first game 6-4.

The Black Sox, on their way to a 17-hit night, scored 14 runs in the first two innings but Post 642 was still in the game trailing 14-9 after three before Pitts slammed the door.

Travis Tindell had two hits for Sedalia and Rock Curry doubled.

Ryan Spry doubled and singled twice and Drew Bradley had three singles to lead Benton County’s onslaught. Garrett Gilbert, Myles Edwards, Pitts and Anthony Agowa added two hits each.

Benton County will be back in Sedalia on Friday for the start of Post 642’s wood bat tournament at Liberty Park Stadium.

The Black Sox face Warrensburg in the tournament’s first game at 10 a.m.

The hosts meet Richmond at 4 p.m.