NEW ORLEANS - The Jefferson City American Legion Post 5 Seniors's bid for a regional title came to an end Thursday.
Jefferson City held an early 3-0 lead in an elimination game against Columbia (Tenn.) Post 19. The lead disappeared by the sixth inning and Columbia took the lead the following inning for a 4-3 win in the Mid-South Region Tournament at John Ryan Stadium.
The Post 5 Seniors end the season with a 30-10 record.
The game was scoreless until the top of the third inning. Parker Schnieders drew a one-out walk and Gaven Strobel followed with a single to left field. After a flyout and a wild pitch advanced the runners on base, Kade Franks singled down the left-field line to score both Schnieders and Strobel to give Post 5 a 2-0 lead.
Jefferson City then drew three consecutive walks. Zach Stiles' walk on four pitches forced in Franks to extend Post 5's lead to three runs.
Jefferson City had chances to add to its lead, but Post 5 left the bases loaded in both the third and fourth innings. Post 5 stranded 11 runners in the first five innings.
Columbia scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth off Post 5 pitcher Skyler Dickneite, who walked back-to-back batters in the inning to trim the lead to 3-2.
Cleanup hitter James Hale tied the game at 3 with a solo home run to right field in the sixth inning. He then gave Columbia the lead in the seventh with an RBI double off Post 5 relief pitcher Hayden Hirschvogel.
Jonathan Lykins, who entered the game to pitch for Columbia in the third inning, retired the final 13 batters he faced to earn the win. Lykins pitched 6 scoreless innings, scattering three hits.
Hirschvogel was credited with the loss for Jefferson City. He allowed one run on one hits with two walks in 2 innings. Dickneite pitched 5 innings and gave up three runs on three hits. He finished with six walks and four strikeouts.
Post 5 finished with six hits, all singles. Ryan Paschal, Schnieders, Strobel, Franks, Stiles and Thomas Verslues each had one hit.