Carmi’s American Legion Post 224 Baseball team came out guns blazing from the mound and at the plate Saturday plating 3 in the 1st, 1 in the 2nd, 5 in the 3rd and pouring across another 7 in the 4th on the way to a 17-1, 5 inning drubbing of the Fairfield squad. Justin Lamp got the win in a dominant pitching effort. He threw 3 and a 1/3 innings of 1 hit ball, and striking out 4 for the win. KaCee Fulkerson mopped things up in the short game effort with the remaining inning and 2/3. Fulkerson gave up just 2 hits and K’d 3, allowing only 1 run. Trey Simmons went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI’s. Travis Black was a perfect 3 for 3 with a homer and 4 runs knocked in. Cal York went 2 for 3 with 2 doubles and a pair knocked in. And KaCee Fulkerson was also solid at the dish going 4 for 4, scoring 3 runs himself and 4 RBI’s of his own.
In Game 1 Saturday, McLeansboro snuck past Grayville by a 3-2 score setting up a matchup with top seed Harrisburg yesterday and sending Grayville to the loser’s bracket. On Sunday, Fairfield eliminated Grayville with a 16-2 win while Harrisburg plowed through McLeansboro 11-1. That sets up matchups today including Fairfield and McLeansboro at 7:30 tonight. The loser goes home in that one. At 5 today, Carmi will need another effort like Saturdays as they take on the top seed Harrisburg. With both squads without a blemish in tournament play however, no matter the outcome, either team will still have a shot at the title after the game tonight.
