Alton Post 126's Season Concludes at State Tournament
The Alton Post 126 baseball squad saw its campaign come to an end in the Department of Illinois State Tournament, finishing with a 19‑12 record after a series of hard‑fought games.
Manager Doug Booten praised the team's pitching depth and defensive reliability, noting that the staff exceeded expectations despite a thin hitting lineup.
Key performances included Hayden LaPlant's five‑inning outing that allowed just two unearned runs, while Landon Sitze, Cam Sievers and other arms kept opponents at bay. Offensively, the team struggled to convert opportunities, leaving runners on base in the sixth and seventh innings without capitalizing.
Losses to Danville Post 210 (8‑2) and Wheaton Post 76 (2‑0) highlighted the narrow margins, and a near‑miss by Joe Stephan in the fourth inning underscored the team's fighting spirit.
Booten reflected that the run to the state tournament was an overachievement for a program that traditionally flies under the radar, and he outlined plans to bolster the roster by recruiting from larger high schools and developing consistency in both pitching and hitting.
With a handful of eligible players set to return and only a few seniors affected by age restrictions, the organization aims to build on this experience and target future success.