Post 5 Juniors end season at state tournament, fall to Lathrop 2-1

WASHINGTON - The Jefferson City Post 5 Juniors had their season come to an end Friday, losing 2-1 to Lathrop Post 467 in an elimination game in the Missouri American Legion AA State Tournament at Ronsick Field.

The Post 5 Juniors end their season with a 14-7-2 record.

All the scoring occurred in the sixth inning.

Lathrop had four consecutive batters reach base with one out, as Conner Musser's single with the bases loaded put Post 467 on the scoreboard. Ethan Noll was hit by a pitch, also with the bases loaded, to make it a 2-0 game.

In the bottom of the sixth, Luke Cavender hit a leadoff triple for Post 5 and scored on Nate Roark's sacrifice fly to right field, making it a one-run game.

Jace Kesel was hit by a pitch with one out in the bottom of the seventh, putting the tying run on base for Jefferson City. However, Lathrop pitcher Brendon Fine finished his complete-game win with a flyout and a strikeout to eliminate Post 5 from the tournament.

In seven innings, Fine gave up one run on four hits with one walk and five strikeouts.

Dalton Scheulen hit a double to start the bottom of the third and Jude Rader followed with a single, but Jefferson City was unable to score in the inning. Lane Wilson singled in the fourth for Post 5.

Wilson was the losing pitcher, allowing two runs on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts in 41/3 innings of relief.

Max Buscher pitched the first 12/3 innings, striking out two while allowing one hit. Jack Robertson pitched the seventh inning, hitting one batter and striking out one.