KIRKSVILLE - The Jefferson City American Legion Post 5 Juniors began their postseason Thursday with a convincing 12-2 win in five innings against Moberly Post 6 in the Zone 1 Tournament.
Moberly held a 1-0 lead after the top half of the first inning, but it was all Jefferson City after that.
Post 5 tied the score in the bottom half on an RBI double by Jaden Hoskins. Jefferson City then took the lead for good with a seven-run third inning.
Post 5 sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning, with seven in a row reaching base safely. Andy Hueste hit an RBI single, while Landon Plochberger and Cade Stockman each added two-run doubles. Braden Hickey capped the inning with an RBI single to extend Post 5's lead to 8-1.
Moberly scored its other run in the fourth on a fielder's choice. Post 5 got that run back, scoring on a passed ball in the bottom half of the inning.
Jefferson City scored three runs in the fifth to end the game by run-rule. Alex Grellner hit a two-run single, and after Hoskins was intentionally walked to load the bases with two outs, Hueste drew a walk to force in Nolan Heckemeyer to end the game.
Hueste went 2-for-3 with two singles and two RBI, while Hoskins finished with two singles. Grellner and Stockman each tallied two RBI.
Grellner was also the winning pitcher for Jefferson City. In five innings, he gave up two runs on six hits and finished with one walk and three strikeouts.
Post 5 (16-0) will play Rhineland Post 147 in a winner's bracket game at noon today. The winner of that game faces either Washington Post 218 or Kirksville Post 20 at 5 p.m. in the winner's bracket final.