Seniors Fall To Elsberry, Rhineland In Doubleheader

Sullivan’s Post 18 senior legion team finally got a chance to play on their home field.

After more than a month of postponements, Sullivan got on the field Tuesday against Elsberry Post 223 and Rhineland Post 147.

The seniors battled, but lost 10-2 and 15-0.

Rhineland

For three innings, Cambrian Koch matched zeroes with Kenny Hoener.

Koch held Rhineland in check until a three-run fourth inning.

Post 147 scored all three runs with two outs.

The game slipped away when Rhineland scored 12 runs in the sixth inning.

Koch pitched 5.1 innings, allowed seven hits and nine runs (four earned).

He struck out eight and walked one.

Jordan Rice recorded the final two outs. He gave up two hits and surrendered six runs.

Hoener was superb.

He didn’t allow a hit, struck out 12 and walked two. Hoener needed 83 pitches.

Rhineland boasted a loaded lineup.

Post 147 featured 2020 Hermann High School graduates Chase McKague and Trent Anderson in the middle of the lineup.

McKague now plays at Columbia College and Anderson is at University of Missouri-St. Louis.

The team also had 2020 Owensville High School graduate Trevor Abernathy, who played for Post 18 in 2017.

Koch, who just finished his freshman high school season, held his own against all three.

McKague went hitless, Anderson doubled and Abernathy singled.

Koch struck out McKague and Anderson in the first inning.

He recorded the first out of the fourth inning, but Anderson reached on an error and Hoener singled. After Abernathy grounded into a fielder’s choice, JJ Mundwiller was hit by a pitch. Jon Utley cleared the bases with a double to right, putting Rhineland up 3-0.

Anderson led off the sixth with a double and scored on Hoener’s single.

Mundwiller added an RBI single, then Utley struck a two-run triple to give Rhineland a 7-0 lead.

Daeden Hopkins hit an RBI groundout and Ethan Towery singled. Seth Wilkerson popped out for the second out, but McKague walked.

Sullivan switched in Rice and Post 147 would go on to score three more runs.

Elsberry

Post 223 scored in all but one inning and ran away with a 10-2 victory.

Sullivan committed four errors.

Tyler Hopen started and went 6.1 innings. He allowed 10 hits, 10 runs (seven earned), struck out three and walked three.

Lane Blankenship secured the final two outs.

Rice and Blankenship had Sullivan’s hits. Blankenship had two singles.

Gavin Schmidt drew three walks.

Elsberry scored on a two-out run in the first on an error.

Post 223 added three runs in the second. Schmidt ended the inning by doubling off Walker.

Schmidt did it again to end the third inning.

Elsberry led 7-0 in the sixth, but Sulliva got on the board with an RBI groundout by Rice.

Blankenship’s RBI single in the seventh scored Koch.