A hugely successful summer baseball season has come to an end in Michigan for the Manitowoc American Legion varsity team.
Legion Post-88 dropped a pair of very competitive games Thursday (August 4th) at the Great Lakes Regional Tournament in Midland, Michigan.
The Wisconsin Triple A champs were edged by Illinois state champion, Aviston (near St. Louis), 4-to-3 in 8 innings, in the completion of a suspended game from Wednesday.
Then, in the consolation bracket later yesterday afternoon, Cincinnati, Ohio defeated Manitowoc 5-to-3, eliminating the local squad from the tournament.
Post-88 jumped out to a 3-nothing lead in the top of the 2nd, only to have Cincinnati tie it in the bottom half of the inning on a three-run homer.
The game remain tied until the home half of the 6th when Cincinnati got a 2-out two-run double.
Brandon Stephany was the losing pitcher, going 6 innings and allowing 5 runs on 5 hits with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts.
Offensively, Alex Lensmeyer, Stephany and Travis Kohlmann each went 2 for 3 in the loss.
Brandon and Kohlmann both had an RBI.
Manager Kevin Stangel’s team finishes with an impressive 26-and-7 record, a first-ever state championship, and also made their first appearance in a national regional tournament.
