Kirt Manion
kmanion@cherryroad.com

The Syracuse American Legion Juniors baseball team finished just one win shy of the state tournament following action at the Area Tournament on Tuesday, July 16, at the Syracuse Sports Complex.

After falling 8-0 in the first game of a doubleheader against Tecumseh, the Syracuse team rallied back and took a late-game lead.

Bryson Jones earned a walk to start the top of the eighth inning and Kyle Holz followed that with a single. Braxton Kelch then delivered with a 2-RBI double which broke a 1-1 tie.

Unfortunately, Tecumseh overcame a 3-1 lead with a three-run inning in the bottom of that same inning to walk off the victory and earn a trip to the state tournament.

Tecumseh 4, Juniors 3

Rocket hits were by Braxton Kelch, two singles and a double, and Peyton DeMello, Mason Jording, and Kyle Holz, singles.

Elliot Harden, Wyatt Higgins, Kyle Cavanaugh, Mason Jording and Braxton Kelch combined to pitch eight innings, struck out 12, walk five and allow four earned runs on eight hits.

Tecumseh 8, Juniors 0

The Rocket offense was held without a hit in a game one loss. Mason Lintz and Braxton Kelch pitched the loss for Syracuse.

With a one-run final margin, it doesn’t come as too much of a surprise that the game came down to some very close plays. Michael Bradley beat out a throw to score a run while Kyle Holz was eliminated by a half step in a sprint to first base.

Photos by Kirt Manion