The American Legion’s Fifth District has dominated the Springfield Tournament over the years with nine champions since 1992.
It’s a far different story this year.
The defending champion Blue Springs Rod’s Sports Athletics, Hi-Boy Drive In/Post 340, Independence Post 21 (which took third last year) and the Independence VFW Post 1000 Bears were eliminated from the tournament Thursday as the result of pool play results.
In past years, it was a 32-team, double-elimination tournament. This week the eight four-team pool winners advanced to Saturday’s bracket play, but no local teams made it that far.
The defending champion A’s finished 2-1 in Pool 6 after a 7-2 loss to West Plains, which went 3-0 to win it.
“It was a disappointing game after playing two good games against Post 21 (Monday night) and two in this tournament,” A’s manager Mike Rooney said. “I thought we had turned the corner. We were extremely flat and never seemed to get into the game.”
Bret Sutton and Dan McGonigle each had three singles to pace the A’s (22-11).
West Plains broke it open with two runs in the fifth inning and three in the sixth. A’s starter Andrew Rider took the loss.
INDEPENDENCE POST 21 6, SPRINGFIELD PARKVIEW 4: Chris Booth’s two-run seventh inning homer gave Post 21 a Pool No. 3 win.
However, Post 21 failed to advance to Saturday’s eight-team bracket. Post 21 and Missouri Baseball each went 2-1 in the pool, but Post 21 lost 18-12 to Missouri Baseball Wednesday.
Donnie Hicks relieved starter William Nesbit in the seventh inning to get the win. Booth also had a single, Jamie Hayes belted a solo home run, Kyle Clifton doubled and Will Sherman and James O’Dell added two singles each for Independence (22-18).
Post 21 tied it 4-4 in the top of the sixth inning.
“We played much better the last two games,” Post 21 manger Tom Bush said. “We only made one error today. The kids seem to be a little more focused, and I hope it will continue for the Wood Bat tournament. Hicks did a real good job in relief.”
SPRINGFIELD GLENDALE 2, HI-BOY DRIVE IN/POST 340 0: Shane Noland’s best performance of the season wasn’t good enough.
Noland allowed only two hits, struck out nine and walked three, but Post 340 suffered a Pool 5 loss and was eliminated from the tournament. Glendale, the 2008 runner-up to the A’s, went 3-0 in the pool.
Post 340 (13-15) was held to three hits, including Spencer Gearhart’s triple and Brandon Wade’s double.
Glendale scored both of its runs in the second inning on a walk and Post 340’s only two errors of the game.
“The two errors hurt us but we didn’t score any runs, so it didn’t make any difference,” Post 340 manager Mike Kline said. “(The Glendale pitcher) is a good pitcher. I’m not taking anything away from him.”
BEARS LOSE TWICE: The Independence VFW Post 1000 Bears were eliminated by falling 13-2 to Willard and 2-1 to Rolla in Pool 8 contests at Willard.
Willard snapped a 2-2 tie with six runs in the fifth inning and added five more in the sixth.
Matt Lickey suffered the loss.
Eddie High hit a long solo home run and singled, Dustin Collins had two hits and Omar Herrera and Victor Herrera each doubled for the Bears against Willard.
In the loss to Rolla, a run in the top of the sixth inning snapped a 2-2 tie and dropped the Bears to 8-20 overall.
High suffered the loss despite allowing just six hits. Collins had two singles.
“The last game was a good game,” Bears manager Ron Phillips said. “Both teams had to play small ball. We should have won. We got picked off three times on base. That was tough.
“The boys kept their spirits up. They are doing great this year.”
The Bears are idle until facing Hi-Boy Drive In/Post 340 at 6 p.m. Monday at Crysler Stadium in a Fifth District doubleheader.
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The American Legion’s Fifth District has dominated the Springfield Tournament over the years with nine champions since 1992.
It’s a far different story this year.
The defending champion Blue Springs Rod’s Sports Athletics, Hi-Boy Drive In/Post 340, Independence Post 21 (which took third last year) and the Independence VFW Post 1000 Bears were eliminated from the tournament Thursday as the result of pool play results.
In past years, it was a 32-team, double-elimination tournament. This week the eight four-team pool winners advanced to Saturday’s bracket play, but no local teams made it that far.
The defending champion A’s finished 2-1 in Pool 6 after a 7-2 loss to West Plains, which went 3-0 to win it.
“It was a disappointing game after playing two good games against Post 21 (Monday night) and two in this tournament,” A’s manager Mike Rooney said. “I thought we had turned the corner. We were extremely flat and never seemed to get into the game.”
Bret Sutton and Dan McGonigle each had three singles to pace the A’s (22-11).
West Plains broke it open with two runs in the fifth inning and three in the sixth. A’s starter Andrew Rider took the loss.
INDEPENDENCE POST 21 6, SPRINGFIELD PARKVIEW 4: Chris Booth’s two-run seventh inning homer gave Post 21 a Pool No. 3 win.
However, Post 21 failed to advance to Saturday’s eight-team bracket. Post 21 and Missouri Baseball each went 2-1 in the pool, but Post 21 lost 18-12 to Missouri Baseball Wednesday.
Donnie Hicks relieved starter William Nesbit in the seventh inning to get the win. Booth also had a single, Jamie Hayes belted a solo home run, Kyle Clifton doubled and Will Sherman and James O’Dell added two singles each for Independence (22-18).
Post 21 tied it 4-4 in the top of the sixth inning.
“We played much better the last two games,” Post 21 manger Tom Bush said. “We only made one error today. The kids seem to be a little more focused, and I hope it will continue for the Wood Bat tournament. Hicks did a real good job in relief.”
SPRINGFIELD GLENDALE 2, HI-BOY DRIVE IN/POST 340 0: Shane Noland’s best performance of the season wasn’t good enough.
Noland allowed only two hits, struck out nine and walked three, but Post 340 suffered a Pool 5 loss and was eliminated from the tournament. Glendale, the 2008 runner-up to the A’s, went 3-0 in the pool.
Post 340 (13-15) was held to three hits, including Spencer Gearhart’s triple and Brandon Wade’s double.
Glendale scored both of its runs in the second inning on a walk and Post 340’s only two errors of the game.
“The two errors hurt us but we didn’t score any runs, so it didn’t make any difference,” Post 340 manager Mike Kline said. “(The Glendale pitcher) is a good pitcher. I’m not taking anything away from him.”
BEARS LOSE TWICE: The Independence VFW Post 1000 Bears were eliminated by falling 13-2 to Willard and 2-1 to Rolla in Pool 8 contests at Willard.
Willard snapped a 2-2 tie with six runs in the fifth inning and added five more in the sixth.
Matt Lickey suffered the loss.
Eddie High hit a long solo home run and singled, Dustin Collins had two hits and Omar Herrera and Victor Herrera each doubled for the Bears against Willard.
In the loss to Rolla, a run in the top of the sixth inning snapped a 2-2 tie and dropped the Bears to 8-20 overall.
High suffered the loss despite allowing just six hits. Collins had two singles.
“The last game was a good game,” Bears manager Ron Phillips said. “Both teams had to play small ball. We should have won. We got picked off three times on base. That was tough.
“The boys kept their spirits up. They are doing great this year.”
The Bears are idle until facing Hi-Boy Drive In/Post 340 at 6 p.m. Monday at Crysler Stadium in a Fifth District doubleheader.
