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Ilion Post eliminated from state American Legion tournament with loss to Binghamton Post

Jon Rathbun, Herkimer Times Telegram
·4 min read

UTICA - An impressive season reached its conclusion for Ilion Post on Sunday with a second loss in double-elimination play at New York's junior division American Legion state baseball tournament.

Ilion Post (21-2) was beaten 5-4 by Binghamton Post in the tournament's first elimination game at Murnane Field. Trailing by two runs as it batted for the last time, Ilion Post scored once, advanced the tying run to second base and had him running to third when the final strike was called to end the game.

"We've got to come up with more clutch hits when we have opportunities," Ilion Post and Central Valley Academy coach Eric Moreau said. "When we don't, good teams are going to beat you."

Ilion Post scored first Sunday and did so early - leadoff hitter Connor Dempsey singled, stole a base and scored on a hit by pitcher Pace Ludwig in the top of the first inning - and later took a 2-1 lead after Binghamton Post had tied the score. Dempsey drove Jake Miller home with his second hit in the fourth inning after Miller had drawn a walk to start the inning and Brody Vogel walked with one out.

Ilion Post's Jake Miller rounds third base and heads for home during the fourth inning of Sunday's state American Legion playoff game against Binghamton Post at Murnane Field.
Ilion Post's Jake Miller rounds third base and heads for home during the fourth inning of Sunday's state American Legion playoff game against Binghamton Post at Murnane Field.

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Both teams had been shut out in their first tournament games, and Binghamton Post did not take its first lead until the fifth inning Sunday. Jimmy Fitzgerald looped a single over the reach of Dempsey with one out and Ludwig hit the next Binghamton Post batter. A fielder's choice left Binghamton Post with runners at first and third bases with two outs. Dom Bernthon's single drove in the tying run and two more scored when Liam Kozel followed with a double to left field.

Each team scored once in the sixth inning. Dempsey reached base on a force play, advanced on a balk and scored on a Luca Skinner single to pull Ilion back within one run in the top of the inning; Fitzgerald's run-scoring single made it a two-run game again heading into the seventh.

Logan Judd led off the top of the seventh with a single and Jeffrey Chase ran for him. A ground out and a strikeout had Ilion Post down to its final out with a runner at second base when Calvin Jacquays singled and Chase scored.

Jacquays stole second base and was on his way to third when a called third strike ended the game.

Binghamton Post's Liam Kozel reacts after his double drove two runs home and broke a fifth-inning tie with Ilion Post Sunday at New York's state junior division American Legion basebal tournament.
Binghamton Post's Liam Kozel reacts after his double drove two runs home and broke a fifth-inning tie with Ilion Post Sunday at New York's state junior division American Legion basebal tournament.

The two strikeouts in the seventh inning were the ninth and 10th of the game for Ilion Post which also drew seven walks while outhitting Binghamton Post 8-6. Ilion Post had left the bases loaded without scoring on another inning-ending strikeout in the third.

"It was a great season," said Moreau whose team is made up of players either returning to his high school team next spring or moving up to the varsity level. "Unfortunately we couldn't get a win here at the state tournament but this is much better competition (than the regular season)."

Ludwig pitched a complete game and had two hits for Ilion Post. Dempsey also had two hits and scored two runs. Brady Moreau reached base twice with a pair of walks while Skinner and Judd each had a hit and a walk.

Fitzgerald and Kozel each had two hits for Binghamton Post.

Ilion and Binghamton posts were playing the first of three rescheduled game after rain washed out the Saturday schedule. The Leo Laders Post-sponsored Rockford Pirates defeated Plattsburgh's Clinton County Mariners 10-0 in the winners bracket semifinal - both mercy rule winners in Friday's first round games - and Binghamton Post advanced to the finals with an 8-7 victory.

Championship-round play starts Monday at 10 a.m. with a second game to be played, if Binghamton Post defeats Rockland in the first. Rockland needs only one victory.

Ilion Post had gone 16-0 during a perfect regular season then ran off five more wins at the District V tournament to earn its place in the state tournament.

Ilion Post's Connor Dempsey trots into third base at the end of an inning Sunday at Murnane Field.
Ilion Post's Connor Dempsey trots into third base at the end of an inning Sunday at Murnane Field.

July 28 Games

  • Clinton County Mariners 10, Binghamton Post 0, six innings

  • Rockland Pirates 17, Ilion Post 0, five innings

July 29 Games

all games postponed

July 30 Games

rescheduled from July 29

  • Binghamton Post 5, Ilion Post 4 (Ilion Post eliminated)

  • Semifinal: Rockland Pirates 10, Clinton County Mariners 0

  • Semifinal: Binghamton Post 8, Clinton County Mariners 7

July 31 Final

rescheduled from July 30

  • Rockland Pirates vs. Binghamton Post at Murnane Field, Utica, 10 a.m. (second game to follow if Binghamton Post wins first game)

This article originally appeared on Times Telegram: Ilion Post eliminated from American Legion baseball tourney with loss