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Murphysboro wins Legion tournament

By Geary Deniston, For The Southern

Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:52 PM CDT

MURPHYSBORO - Murphysboro won the District 25 American Legion Senior Baseball Tournament with a 10-0 win over Steeleville on Thursday night.

Murphysboro got out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the second inning on a one-out double by outfielder Joe Davidson, a single by Steve Draper, and a two-out base hit by Matt Hand.

Murphysboro upped its lead to 6-0 on a one-out double by Adam Connor in the third inning and a two-out, two-run double by Hayden Hicks in the fourth. Murphysboro put the game away in the eighth, scoring four runs.

Steeleville missed a golden opportunity in the first inning when Murphysboro committed two errors to put runners at first and third with two outs. However, Murphysboro starter Caleb Luttrell got the third out by getting Peter Zobel on a popout to short.

Luttrell allowed just one hit in six shutout innings. The right-hander struck out eight and walked none.

In Thursday's earlier game, Danny Zobel drove in the go-ahead run and scored on a wild pitch in the sixth inning to propel Steeleville to a 6-4 win over Sparta and advance to the championship game.

Zobel broke a 2-2 tie with a two-out triple off Sparta starter Clay Peck to drive in Matt Hubert, who reached base in the previous at-bat with a double. Zobel then scored on a wild pitch to up the lead to 4-2.

Sparta pulled back to within a run on a one-out solo home run by Zach Miller in the top of the seventh. Sparta scored its last run in the eighth inning on a leadoff homer by Tyler Schaffner.

Steeleville put the game away in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs on a two-out base hit by Ross Cook and an ensuing throwing error.

Zobel was the hitting star for Steeleville, going 3-for-3, while Cook and Hubert had two hits apiece.

Murphysboro and Steeleville both advance to the Division 5 Tournament to be held Tuesday at Ray Fosse Field in Marion. Murphysboro will play at 1 p.m. against the District 23 West opponent. Steeleville will play at 10 a.m. against a District 24 opponent. Marion will also advance and will play at 7 p.m. Monday against a District 24 opponent.