A Pitcher's Dominance
Alton Post 126 secured an 8‑3 victory over St. Jacob Post 665 in the regular‑season finale, a win that not only clinches a three‑game streak but also bolsters the team’s confidence as it prepares for postseason play.
Right‑hander Cam Sievers was the centerpiece of the effort, delivering a career‑high 15 strikeouts over six innings while allowing just one run on three hits and two walks. He retired 12 of the final 14 batters, including six swinging strikeouts, and struck out the side in three of his frames.
The scoring opened early when Dagen Cordes ripped an RBI double in the bottom of the first, driving in the game’s first run. Alton extended its lead in the third with a three‑base error that plated a second run, and a leadoff single by Ryan Lowis followed by an RBI triple from Jayce Steinkuehler added a third run in the fourth.
St. Jacob answered in the third with back‑to‑back triples from Camden McDaniel and Kelvin Long, tying the game at 1‑1 before Alton reclaimed the lead later in the inning.
The decisive blow came in the sixth when a leadoff error and two walks set the stage for a five‑run burst. Nolan Bowsher cleared the bases with a double, and RBI singles from Johnny Kunz and Joe Stephan pushed the lead to 8‑1. Although St. Jacob added a couple of runs in the seventh, the damage had been done.
Sievers’ performance set the tone for the team’s momentum, as the win marked the third straight victory to close out the regular season. His invitation to the roster came after a personal request from teammate Dagen Cordes, underscoring the camaraderie that fuels the club’s drive.