Sunday play at the Class B state tourney had Alliance taking on Crete. Both squads dropped their first games on Saturday and were looking to survive. Using a 5 run first frame, it was Sid Dillion cruising past the Peltz Co 9 to 3. Alliance ends their state appearance at 0 and 2 and 37 and 15 for the year. The tournament is being played in Springfield and it’s the American Division level. Down 6 to 0 after two innings, the Seniors scored 2 in the third but would get no closer. The Spartans had 5 hits for the game with 5 different Spartans finishing with one knock each. Three Seniors took the rubber with Espen Lanik getting the start and going 2 frames. Relievers Lexton Salcido and Carver Nemnich also threw. The highlight of the game came in the sixth on a solo home run by Spartan Tony Escamilla.
Post 147 took command early. Alliance went to the dish first and failed to score. In the home half, Crete plated 5 to gain a nice advantage. The Peltz Co would turn a double play in the frame to limit the damage. Inning 2 was a scoreless one for the Peltz Co while Sid Dillion added to their margin with a tally. Alliance was down 6 to 0 heading to the third.
Alliance rallied in their third frame attempt. Hits by Kobe Strom and Jackson Shelmadine began the scoring. A 2 run double by Braeden Clarke then made it 6 to 2. Crete responded with a run in the bottom of the inning to go 5 after three innings of play . Frame #4 saw both clubs go without a score. In the top of the fifth, the Peltz Co got a knock from Lanik but he was stranded. Post 147 scores twice in the home half to extend their lead to 9 to 2. The fifth closed with another twin killing by the Spartans. Lanik caught a fly in center then threw out a Crete runner trying to cross. After 5, the Seniors trailed 9 to 2.
A blast from Escamilla in the top of the sixth gave Alliance a chance. Unfortunately, it was the lone tally for the Spartans in the inning. Reliever Nemnich had a scoreless frame in the home half. Sid Dillion then won the affair by holding the Peltz Co without a score in their last try in the top of the seventh.
Final. Crete 9. Alliance 3
Peltz Co. 0. 0. 2. 0. 0. 1. 0. 3
Sid Dillion. 5. 1. 1. 0. 2. 0. X. 9
Hits for the Spartans. One each. Clarke. Lanik. Strom Shelmadine and Escamilla.