The Jefferson City American Legion Post 5 Juniors entered the consolation bracket of the Ozark Mountain World Series with a 9‑9 record, only to see their hopes dim when U.S. Nationals MidSouth pulled away for an 8‑3 victory.
After a tightly contested opening, the score was level at 1‑1 following two innings, but the MidSouth squad answered with six unanswered runs, turning a close game into a decisive lead.
MidSeries Momentum Shifts
Jefferson City managed to plate two runs early, the first coming when Colton Verslues reached on a one‑out error in the bottom of the second, allowing London Talken to cross the plate. Talken, who finished the game with a single and a double, accounted for half of his team’s six hits.
The Juniors added two more runs in the sixth inning, sparked by Cooper Kemna’s two‑out single to left that brought home both Eli Kemna and Talken, narrowing the gap but unable to spark a comeback.
On the mound, Verslues worked the first 5 ⅓ innings, surrendering seven runs on six hits while walking four and striking out four. Reliever Gavin Moreland closed out the outing with 1 ⅔ innings, giving up a single run on three hits and fanning one batter.
The tournament now moves to a final showdown against the Arkansas Canes, scheduled for an 8:30 a.m. first pitch at the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex, where the Juniors hope to finish the series on a brighter note.