NIXA, Mo. - The Jefferson City American Legion Post 5 Seniors won their pool in the Howard Johnson Invitational with a victory early Friday.
After two wins in the event Thursday, Post 5 improved to 3-0 with an 8-7 win over the Midwest Black Sox.
The local club fell behind 7-2 after 21â„2 innings before starting to rally. In the bottom of the third, Cole Distler tripled and later scored on a hit by Connor Hager.
Post 5 got within 7-4 in the fourth with a two-out score. Seth Lehmen walked, moved up on an error and a passed ball and scored on an RBI single by Clayton Harrison.
Distler scored another run in the fifth to cut the deficit to 7-5.
Then in the bottom of the seventh, Post 5 loaded the bases with one out. Trevor Schnieders drew a walk to pull Jefferson City within 7-6, then Post 5 tied it on a sacrifice fly by Patrick Schnieders. Lehmen then followed with the game-winning hit, a single down the left-field line that scored Corey Beard.
Nolan Bax was the winning pitcher, as he allowed no hits and struck out five in his four innings of work.
Post 5 returned to action late Friday night against Springfield Kickapoo at Kickapoo High School.