On Tuesday, July 23, Wagner’s Post 11 Senior Legion team traveled to Corsica to participate in the Region 4B tournament.

The first matchup was with Scotland-Menno-Freeman. The 79ers would get on the board in the bottom of the first inning as they scored an unearned run after a failed pick off attempt at second base. Wagner answered back in the next inning as Carter Cournoyer scored on a bases loaded walk drawn by Hunter Loeffler.

S-M-F led off the second with a hit batter and a double and would get the first runner home on a safety squeeze play.

The score would remain 2-1 until the top of the 7th inning. Loeffler reached on a dropped third strike and then Ted Slaba laced an 0-2 pitch over the left-fielder’s head for a double putting runners on second and third with no out. Loeffler would be thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice with runners once again at the second and third. Christian Doom was then given an intentional walk, loading the bases. Joey Cournoyer then grounded into a 4-6 fielder’s choice with an errant throw by the shortstop ending up in the dugout given Wagner a 3-2 lead.

Wagner would keep S-M-F off the board in the bottom half of the inning to claim their first-round victory.

Slaba started on the mound and went four innings giving up both runs. He allowed four hits, two walks, two hit batsmen and struck out one. The relief pitching of Carter Cournoyer and Frank Soukup did a great job of keeping the opponents off the board the rest of the way as Carter threw 1.1 scoreless innings, and Soukup 1.2 as he would earn the win.

Joey Cournoyer had two hits and an RBI while Soukup, Slaba, Carter Cournoyer, and Preston McFayden each had a hit. Doom drew three walks and Carter Cournoyer drew two.

The next opponent was Parkston. They got up 3-0 in the first getting all three runs after two were out and no one on. They then plated five runs in the third to put the game out of reach as Parkston would claim a 13-5 victory.

Matt Link was the pitcher of record as he went four innings giving up nine runs, four of which were earned. He allowed five hits, five walks, and struck out five while also hitting four Parkston batters. Brady Cournoyer gave up one earned run in an inning of work on one hit and a walk. McFayden gave up three unearned runs on two hits and a walk. Malakai Segura finished the game going two-thirds of an inning without a run allowed.

Offensively for Wagner, Carter Cournoyer had two hits and an RBI. Slaba, Soukup, and Joey Cournoyer each had a hit with Joey driving in two runs. Landon Mudder drove in one run with a bases loaded walk.

This loss put Wagner in a win or go home situation against Tabor. Wagner scored two runs in the bottom of the first to take an early lead. Tabor, however, would come up with four runs in the top of the second. Both teams would score three runs in the fourth inning and that is all the scoring there would be as Tabor came away with a 7-5 win, ending Wagner’s season.

Carter Cournoyer started on the mound. He went 4.2 innings giving up seven runs, four earned, on 11 hits while walking three and striking out six. Joey Cournoyer came on to pitch well in relief as he finished the game allowing no runs on one hit while striking out two.

McFayden, Soukup, Slaba, and Carter Cournoyer all had one hit with Slaba driving in two runs and McFayden one. Joey Cournoyer had two hits and an RBI and Christian Doom had one RBI.

The boys ended up with a 5-12 record. Not what we had hoped for. However, I think we were a better team than what our record indicated. While we did have a couple of rough outings, for the most part we were right in all our games. On behalf of coach Sam Metzger and myself I would just like to thank the boys for playing baseball for us this year. We have a good time doing what we do and couldn’t do it without you guys. Also, thank you to the parents and all who came out to watch and support us. And, of course, thanks to our American Legion Post 11 who allow us to have a team. All of your effort and support are greatly appreciated.