18 straight: Post 346 stays unbeaten, captures Missouri tourney title

An 11-hit offensive attack — led by Briar Goda’s homer, three hits and two RBIs — helped Terre Haute’s Wayne Newton Post 346 beat the host Post 218 team 11-5 in Sunday’s championship game of the Washington, Missouri American Legion baseball tournament.

Goda also scored twice, as did teammates Ian Samm, Linden Jenkins and Parker Higham.

Terre Haute wasted no time in building a decisive lead. Post 346 scored six runs in the top of the first inning, more than enough to secure the win.

Post 346 now carries an 18-0 record into the Danville, Illinois tournament, which runs Friday through Sunday.

In Sunday’s Missouri finale, Terre Haute also got a home run and a single from Noah Fields. Jenkins drove in two runs with a double and a single. Derek Morrison tripled.

Starting pitcher Jackson Pierce threw 2 1/3 innings, striking out three Washington batters, walking two and yielding four earned runs. Trey Eldridge finished the final 4 2/3 innings, striking out seven, walking one and giving up Washington’s fifth and final run.

Post 346 advanced to the title game with a 15-8 victory over Festus, Missouri Post 253 in Sunday’s semifinal game.

Terre Haute’s bats rang out in that one, too, amassing 15 hits. Post 346 had to rally from a 6-3 deficit, scoring eight runs in the bottom of the fourth to take command.

Jenkins had a homer, a single, three RBIs and three runs scored. Colton Moore homered and singled. Hunter Mason totaled two hits, three RBIs and a run scored. Parker Weir hit safely twice and scored twice.

Terre Haute’s opening pitchers Jacob Norton and Tristen Deel dealt with Festus’s potent offense, which cranked out 14 hits. Mason relieved in the sixth and seventh innings, blanking Post 253 to lock up the win.