Post 416 rolling through District 13 tournament

STE GENEVIEVE – Farmington’s Post 416 Senior Legion team continued to plow their way through the District 13 American Legion Senior Tournament knocking off their second higher seed in as many days as they pulverized No. 3 seed Rock Memorial on Thursday by a score of 14-4. The win boosts Farmington into Saturday’s finals where they will only need one win to claim the tourney title.

Both teams left the bases loaded in the first inning, but Post 416 would blast off in the third inning to take full command of the game as they sent 14 players to the plate to score nine runs. Farmington received some help from Rock Memorial committing two errors in the inning, but Ryan Propst came up with the big hit, clearing the bases with a three-run double.

Starting pitcher Brandt Busenbark helped his own cause with a two-run single. Busenbark pitched into the seventh inning and gave up the four runs, allowing only six hits by the higher seeded team.

Rock Memorial scored their four runs in the final two innings of the seven-inning shortened game. Ace Armstrong took over in relief, but when Rock Memorial threatened to extend the game with the bases loaded, Logan Winder was called upon to finalize the win as he struck out the only batter he faced on three pitches.

Winder reached base five out of his six plate appearances going 3-2 with two doubles and two walks. Busenbark was 3-5 with three singles to drive in four runs.

Post 416 will now wait to see who emerges from the loser’s bracket to play them in the championship game on Saturday. Rock Memorial, Festus and Ste. Genevieve will play today to see which team will be Farmington’s opponent with the winner having to defeat Farmington twice.