Strobel's blast caps walk-off regional win for Post 5 Seniors

NEW ORLEANS - The Jefferson City American Legion Post 5 Seniors opened the Mid-South Regional Tournament with a walk-off win, yet the game was never close.

Gaven Strobel hit a grand slam to left field, capping Post 5's 11-0 win via run-rule in seven innings against Amory (Miss.) Post 25 in the first round of the regional Wednesday at Kirsch-Rooney Stadium.

The win is the 30th this summer for the Post 5 Seniors.

Jefferson City opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Jonathon Backes and Jason Rackers each had an RBI single to give Post 5 a 2-0 lead.

Hayden Hirschvogel added a sacrifice fly in the third inning. He followed that at-bat with a two-out single in the fifth, then stole second and third base. After Skyler Dickneite drew a walk, both he and Hirschvogel scored on an error to extend Jefferson City's lead to 5-0.

That would be more than enough run support for Rackers, who pitched a five-hit shutout for Post 5. In seven innings, Rackers threw 99 pitches - 70 strikes - and struck out 11 batters while walking two.

Jefferson City scored six runs in the seventh inning to end the contest early. Kade Franks doubled and scored on a passed ball, while Hirschvogel singled and later scored on a single by Ryan Paschal to make the score 7-0.

Dickneite and Parker Schnieders each walked to load the bases with one out, setting up Strobel's walk-off grand slam.

Five players had multi-hit games for Post 5. Franks finished 2-for-3 with one single and one double. Paschal, Backes, Rackers and Hirschvogel each had two singles and one RBI.

Strobel went 1-for-5 with four RBI. Paschal, Backes and Dickneite each scored two runs.

The Post 5 Seniors (30-8) will play Ada (Okla.) Post 72 (35-9) at 7:30 p.m. today. Ada had five pitchers combine for a one-hitter Thursday to beat New Orleans Post 285 7-2.

In other first-round games of the regional tournament Wednesday, Bryant (Ark.) Post 298 opened the day with a 9-6 win against Columbia (Tenn.) Post 19. Desrehan (La.) Post 366 routed Ottawa (Kan.) Post 60 13-1 in seven innings.