Post 147 places fifth in Logan showcase

CARTERVILLE -- Cory Howard was hit in the leg by the first pitch of the game Sunday and the rout was on from that moment forward.
Howard stole a base and later scored on a hit by Ryan Trokey to start a six-run rally and the Marion Post 147 Senior American Legion baseball team went to blast Herrin Post 645, 16-0, in the fifth-place game of the John A. Logan College Showcase.
Marion Post 147 is now 5-3 this season if counting the forfeit received in the tournament's second round. Marion lost to Christopher, 7-5, in the opening round.
The first round also included Harrisburg receiving a bye due to Carbondale dropping out of the tournament. That action also meant Marion moving directly to the fifth-place game after losing to Christopher.
They were joined by Herrin after Post 645's game against Murphysboro was halted by darkness in a tie and settled by a coin flip. Herrin was drubbed by eventual-champion Steeleville Post 480, 10-0, in the first round.
Marion was ahead of Christopher 5-2 in the fourth inning Saturday but gave up two runs in the fifth and three in the sixth to fall. Brendan Soldner had three hits and Trokey had two RBIs for Post 147 in the loss.
Christopher scored four of its runs with the help of four Marion errors.
Then in the fifth-place game Sunday, Howard was plunked on the first pitch and stole second before Austin Palmer walked. Lucas Will dropped a sac bunt to advance both runners, then Trokey singled to bring in Howard and start the parade.
Palmer, Trokey, Gage Johnson, Frankie Horner and Tyler Cline all scored in the first inning, when Howard batted a second time and singled and stole another base. Howard also doubled in the third and was the winning pitcher.
Marion took advantage of eight walks in the first three innings alone and cruised to the 16-0 win.
Post 147 is scheduled to play at Murphysboro Post 127 on Tuesday night, then host Goreville in a doubleheader Thursday starting at 6 p.m.