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On Tuesday, July 18, the Wagner Legion Post 11 baseball team took to Blue Bird Field in Tabor to begin their region tournament play against the team from Parkston.

After a scoreless first inning Parkston used two hits to plate a run in the top of the 2nd inning. They would add a solo home run in the 4th to extend their lead to 2-0. Wagner tried to answer in their half of the inning but would ground into an inning ending 1-23 double play to end the threat.

Momentum then stayed on Parkston’s side as they would add four runs in the 5th, three in the 6th, and three in the 7th to come away with a 12-1 win.

Carter Cournoyer took the loss for Wagner as he went 4.1 innings. He gave up four earned runs on four hits, four walks and two hit batsmen while striking out five. Javian Pesicka came on and went 2/3 of an inning giving up two earned runs of his own on two hits while walking three and striking out one. Corbin Carda pitched 1/3 of an inning giving up three earned runs on two hits and threewalks. FrankSoukupwould finish things up with 1.2 innings of work. He gave up three runs, only one of which was earned, on one hit and one walk while striking out one.

Carter Cournoyer, Ted Slaba, Frank Soukup, and Joey Cournoyer had the only hits with Joey driving in Soukup for the lone Wagner tally.

This loss put us in the losers bracket against Alexandria who fell to Tabor by an 8-1 score.

Wagner got up 2-0 on the Angels as we plated two runs in the first three innings, both runs scoring on bases loaded walks. One of the walks was drawn by Brady Cournoyer and the other by Slaba. We had the bases loaded with two outs in the top of the 3rd when the skies opened up and soaked the field, players, and fans alike as the game was pushed back to Thursday.

Play resumed with Wagner leaving those bases loaded. Alexandria would answer back in the bottom of the 5th as they scored three runs after two were out on two walks and two singles to take a one run lead. They added some insurance in the 6th as they pushed one more run across on a wild pitch.

It was then do or die for Wagner as they came to bat for the last time. Slaba and Camden Roth would get things started as they both drew walks to lead off the inning. Brady Cournoyer then laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt moving the tying run into scoring position. Daniel Soukup came up next and drew a four pitch, pinch hit walk to load the bases. Javian Pesicka, the lead-off hitter, was up next. He sent a liner screaming down the left field line that landed foul by about a foot. He would later draw the fourth walk of the inning to cut Alexandria’s lead to one. After a strike-out, Corbin Carda would step to the plate with Wagner’s season hanging in the balance. The pressure did not prove to be too much for this kid as he roped a double over the left fielder’s head to plate two runs and give Wagner the lead.

Alexandria would get one last shot. Of course, things weren’t going to be easy. The first batter would draw a lead off walk and a sacrifice bunt put him in scoring position. A strike-out left Wagner with one more out to get. This, however, was followed by an infield single and a walk to load the bases. And to top it off our starting pitcher, Matt Link, had reached his pitch limit and was removed. Javian Pesicka came in to try and get the last out. And get it he did with the help of leftfielder Roth who came in to make a sensational catch on a sinking line drive on what was probably the hardest hit ball of the game.

Link would earn the win as he went 6.2 innings giving up the four runs on five hits, while walking eight and striking out nine. Pesicka would earn the save.

Carda led the way offensively as he collected three hits and the two big RBI. Joey Cournoyer added two hits and Carter Cournoyer one. Wagner drew 12 walks on the night, two apiece by Slaba, Roth, Brady Cournoyer, and Frank Soukup. Four of the five runners who scored reached via the walk.

Wagner lived to play another day. They would face the Padres of Mt.Vernon-Plankinton/Corsica- Stickney on Friday. Things did not start well for Wagner as they found themselves in a 6-0 hole after the first inning. It did not get much better afterwards as Wagner went down with a thud falling by a score of 14-0.

Slaba took the loss on the mound as he got roughed up for nine runs, eight earned, on eight hits and one walk while striking out one. Keegan McAdaragh pitched an inning. He gave up five earned runs on three hits and four walks while striking out two. Carlin Hopkins was the lone bright spot in the pitching department as he gave up zero runs on one hit and one walk in his two innings of work.

Offensively Wagner could muster only three hits, one each by Roth, Frank Soukup, and Carter Cournoyer.

This ends the American Legion season. The boys would end their season with an 8-9 record. Much thanks to all the parents who allowed their kids to participate and for helping with the concessions, transportation, score keeping, pitch counting, umpiring, etc. A special thank you to Jerry Seiner and American Legion Post 11 for the help in getting things organized and providing gate workers for our home games. Lastly, thank you to the players. Your time and efforts are appreciated by your coaches. We enjoy what we do and hope that you had a good experience this season.