ALTON - Justice Drainer had a big night at the plate with four hits and five RBIs, while Brody Short also had four hits, and struck out four on the mound, to help Jerseyville Post 492 scored in every inning but the fourth in taking a 14-2 win over Alton Post 126's junior American Legion baseball team in a game played Tuesday evening, June 23, 2026, at Lloyd Hopkins Filed in Gordon Moore Park.
The junior Legionnaires have lost back-to-back games for the first time this season, and are now 11-7-1 on the season.
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Jerseyville scored twice in the first, once in the second, and twice more at the top of the third to go up 5-0 early on, while Alton scored once in the bottom of the first to cut the lead to 5-1. Post 492 then scored three more runs in the fourth, two in the sixth, and four runs in the seventh to push the lead to 14-1, before Post 126 scored a late run in the home half of the seventh to make the final 14-2 in favor of Jerseyville.
Drainer led the way with his four hits and five RBIs, while Short also had four hits, Hudson Schannot had a big day at the plate himself with three hits and five RBIs, Graham Vanausdoll had two hits and an RBI, Issac Hackethal came up with a pair of hits, Dylan Niemeyer came with a hit and RBI, Ethan Hughes came up with a hit, and both Caden Crimmins and Luther Vanausdoll both drove in runs. Short went 4.1 innings on the mound and was credited with the win, giving up an unearned run on four hits, walking two, and striking out four. Jagger Young pitched 1.2 innings and didn't allow a run or hit, walking none and fanning one. Liam Spencer pitched in the seventh, giving up an unearned run on a hit, walking none, and striking out none.
Nolan Pichee led the junior Legionnaires with two hits and an RBI, while Auggie Landuyt, Max Laird, and Bradlee Hamlin all had hits. Will McCormick was the starter, and was tagged with the loss, going four innings, and allowing eight runs, seven earned, on 11 hits, walking two and striking out none, Laird went for 1.2 innings, giving up four earned runs on three hits, walking one and striking out one, and Triston Ferguson pitched the final 1.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits, walking two and fanning one.
Jerseyville next plays in a doubleheader at home, hosting Trenton Post 778's junior team at 5:15 pm next Tuesday, then hosts the Trenton senior Gators at 7 p.m., then hosts the junior team of Elsberry, Mo. Post 226 in another doubleheader July 1, at 5:30 p.m, and 7:30 p.m. Jerseyville and Alton's junior teams then meet each other again in a doubleheader set for July 6 at Lloyd Hopkins Field at 5:30 and 7 p.m.
Alton goes to 11-7-1, and next meets Washington, Mo. Post 218 at home June 29 at 6 p.m., then plays in the Play 9 tournament over Fourth of July weekend against opponents to be determined, with the Friday game set for 6 p.m, and games on the Fourth and the next day, July 5, starting at 12 noon.
Dan Brannan also contributed to this story.
