Clayton McCormick Throws Four Solid Innings, Strikes Out Four, Junior Legionnaires Win Over Eureka Post 177 8-3

ALTON - Clayton McCormick got the start on the mound and threw four solid innings, striking out four, while a six-run Alton third inning spelled the difference as the Post 126 junior American Legion baseball team defeated Eureka, Mo. Post 177 8-3 in a game played Monday evening at Lloyd Hopkins Field in Gordon Moore Park.

The win was the second time this season the junior Legionnaires have won back-to-back games and they are now 6-4 on the campaign.

Alton took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the second, then exploded with their six-run third to extend the lead to 8-0 after three innings. Eureka scored single runs in the fourth, sixth, and seventh innings, but it was too little, too late, as Post 126 took the 8-3 decision.

Nolan Pichee, Fletcher Groppel, and Chris Rayfield all had a hit and an RBI each for Alton, while Clayton McCormick also had a hit, and both Zach Thornton and Will McCormick drove in a run each.

Clayton McCormick started on the mound, allowing an earned run on four hits, walking one and fanning four, while Will McCormick picked up the save, going the final three innings, allowing two unearned runs on six hits, walking one and striking out one.

The junior Legionnaires are now 6-4 and are at Jerseyville Post 498 on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., then play in a tournament in Danville this weekend, going up against the host Post 210's team Friday at 12:30 p.m., then meeting Vincennes, Ind., Post 73 at 3 p.m., winding up group play against Watseka Post 23 Saturday at 10 a.m., before playing their final game of the tournament Sunday at 10 a.m.

Dan Brannan also contributed to this story.

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