American Legion: Staying Alive
In 1974, Blue Swede was "Hooked On A Feeling." Fast forward some 40-plus years later and Harrisburg Post 167 has been hooked on a number in the 24th District American Legion Tournament.
A primarily potent offense during the regular season, Harrisburg has been averaging four runs per game in a 4-3 win over Carmi and then a 9-4 loss to Metropolis.
Post 167 found themselves back on that magic number Tuesday night until Austin Hefner helped Harrisburg shake itself off the hook en route to an 8-7 elimination win over Carrier Mills at Carmi.
"We had a great effort from a lot of different players," said Harrisburg head coach, Doug Emery of Post 167. "Hefner had a good game and Jordan (Gould) pitched really well. For him to come in after he had some problems on the mound (Monday night) and come in and throw the way he did … I'm just very proud of him. We had some great efforts all around.
"We made some mental mistakes, but I felt like we hit the ball better and scored some runs. We just gave ourselves a chance to move on and that's all we wanted."
Hefner crushed a solo shot in the top of the fourth to break a 4-4 tie and gave Post 167 a brief lead before Carrier Mills scored one run in the top of the sixth to square the game at 5.
Hefner, however, stepped up to the plate again in the bottom of the sixth and ripped a two RBI double to centerfield as part of a three-run inning giving Harrisburg an 8-5 advantage.
Bryce Emery relieved Gould with one out on the top of the sixth and despite giving up a two-run home run to Dallas Reynolds in the top of the seventh to pull Carrier Mills to within one at 8-7. Emery picked up the win and preserved the ballgame for Post 167.
Gould got the no-decision despite a strong performance on the bump. Gould gave up five runs on four hits, striking out seven and issuing three walks over five innings and didn't get much help from his defense behind him as they committed four errors.
Emery struck out three in relief, while giving up two runs on two hits.
Carrier Mills' Colton McCree went the distance and picked up the loss as the Crab Orchard native gave up eight runs on 11 hits. He struck out seven and walked four.
At the plate for Post 167, Hefner was 2-for-2 with a home run and a double and had three RBI on the day. Gould also had three RBI and Vallette had another.
Presley Gauch had a double, while Adam Ninness, Drew Woolcott, Britton Riden and Emery also had a hit.
Carrier Mills was paced by a pair of two-hit performances from Anthony Kalonder and Reynolds.
Lane Hutson, Ethan Ashby and Reynolds all had two RBI a piece for Carrier Mills.
If there was an alarming stat for Emery and Post 167 in their win, it was the fact that they left the bases loaded in the second, fourth and fifth with not much to show for it in terms of runs or productivity.
"It was a big concern, especially in the sixth when we left the bases loaded and our better hitters coming up. That's unusual for us and I've watched this team play in high school and this summer and they're usually pretty good in that situation, but look, credit McCree and the way he was pitching. He pitched well and got out of a lot of jams, so I'm not faulting our hitting as much as congratulating him on his pitching."
Carrier Mills is now eliminated from the 24th District Tournament, this after staging a comeback earlier in the day and knocking off Carmi 6-3 to eliminate Post 224.
Harrisburg played Metropolis at 4 p.m. in the championship - a win for Post 167 would only mean they would have to play Metropolis again at 7 p.m.- since Post 306 hasn't lost in the double elimination tournament.
Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Daily Register. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.
24th District American Legion Baseball Tournament at Carmi
<p><strong>24th District American Legion Baseball Tournament</strong><br /><strong>at Carmi</strong><br /><strong>Saturday, July 9</strong><br />GAME 1 — Carmi (4) , Carrier Mills (5) 6 <br />GAME 2 — Metropolis (2) 3, McLeansboro (7) 2<br />GAME 3 — Fairfield (3) 12 vs. Shawneetown (6) 1<br /><strong>Sunday, July 10</strong><br />GAME 4 — Harrisburg (1) 4, Carmi 3<br />GAME 5 — Metropolis 12 Fairfield 2<br />GAME 6 — McLeansboro 5, Shawneetown 1<br /><strong>Monday, July 11</strong><br />GAME 7 — Carrier Mills 12 Fairfield 7<br />GAME 8 — Carmi 4 McLeansboro 1<br />GAME 9 — Metropolis 9, Harrisburg 4<br /><strong>Tuesday, July 12</strong><br />GAME 10 — Carrier Mills 6, Carmi 3<br />GAME 11 — Harrisburg 8, Carrier Mills 7<br /><strong>Wednesday, July 13</strong><br />GAME 12 — Metropolis vs. Harrisburg (n)<br />GAME 13 — Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser, (n) (if necessary)</p>