Highland wins Senior American Legion Fifth Division Tournament

Jordan Smith made the most out of his second start of the season and Blaine Ray made the most out of a second chance on Saturday in the title game of the Senior American Legion Fifth Division Baseball Tournament.

Smith was masterful in a seven inning stint while Ray drove in all three runs with a double and single as Highland advanced to its third ever trip to the State Senior American Legion Tournament on Saturday with a 3-2 win over Metropolis.

“I’m speechless, ecstatic, thrilled and so many other things right now,’’ Highland manager Harry Painter said. “Jordan has great stuff tonight and did a tremendous job and then Chris (Dickman) was able to come in and close it out for us.

“We’re thrilled to be going to the state tournament. We don’t know what to really expect. But these kids will go up and play well. I’m very proud of this baseball team.’’

The win moves Highland into the Senior American Legion State Tournament which begins on Wednesday in Jerseyville. The District 5 winner will play at 3:30 p.m. in the second first round game of the double elimination tournament.

Highland, whose only loss of the tournament came when Herrin rallied with a five-run ninth inning for an 8-7 win, held off Harrisburg 5-4 in the first game on Saturday.

Ray, batting ninth in the order, gave Highland a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Metropolis starting pitcher Nate Ross issued a pair of walks and after Griffin Welz fanned, Ray doubled to the right-centerfield alley to score both runs.

Ray added a run scoring single in the sixth inning to make the score 3-0.

Smith, who pitched around a pair of one-out doubles, was masterful throughout his six innings of work, but seemed to tire in the seventh. Metropolis’ Brady Austin made it 3-1 with a run scoring single.

Dickman took over in the eighth inning and allowed an RBI double to Ryan Bradley to cut the lead to 3-2

In the first game

Will Greenwald highlighted a four-run seventh inning with a two-run double and reliever Sam Greene survived a late Harrisburg rally as Highland moved into the title game.

Taking advantage of six Harrisburg errors, Highland took a 5-0 lead as Greenwald’s clutch double took a slim 1-0 lead into a 3-0 cushion. Austin Gusewelle and Jordan Smith added run-scoring singles as part of the inning.

Starting pitcher Dillon Hallemann, buzzing along with a two-hit shutout through six innings, seemed to tire in the near 100 degree heat. Harrisburg loaded the bases in the seventh inning and scored two runbs. But it could have been worse for Highland had it not been for a dazzling play by third baseman Griffin Welz.

With the bases loaded and nobody out, Welz made a diving stop on a hot shot down the line, tagged third base and fired a strike to complete the double play.

Greene pitched the final three innings to pick up the save.

Dean Criddle: 618-239-2661, @CriddleDean

This story was originally published July 23, 2016 at 10:34 PM with the headline "Highland wins Senior American Legion Fifth Division Tournament."