KOKOMO — Raindrops, drama and drowsiness played a part on the fourth day of the 2018 Indiana American Legion Baseball State Tournament.

Steady rain at CFD Investments Stadium in Highland Park caused a change in the schedule on Monday, July 20. The first game was originally slated for 1 p.m., but started at 7. The second contest began at 9:37 p.m. and wrapped at 11:40 p.m.

Because the forecast for Tuesday, July 31, the day’s first game — Floyds Knobs Post 42 vs. Lafayette Post 11 — has been moved to 9 a.m.

The winner of that game meets Terre Haute 346 in Tuesday’s championship of the eight-team double-elimination event began Friday, July 27.

Floyds Knobs Post 42 eliminated South Bend Post 151 by a 3-1 score in Monday’s first game. The game ended with two South Bend runners aboard in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Lafayette earned a walk-off 3-2 victory against Terre Haute late Monday. Post 346 came into the day as the tournament’s only remaining unbeaten. 

Lafayette Post 11 3, Terre Haute Post 346 2

Kalani Washington’s single to center on a 2-1 pitch from right-handed reliever Blade Pittman (2 innings, 1 run, 2 hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts) drove in Riley Eberhart with the game-winner for Post 11.

Eberhart blooped a lead-off double to left and Austin Dunwoody an intentional walk before Washington’s third hit of the contest (he had doubles in the first and fifth innings.

Righty bullpen man Drew Davidson (1 1/3 innings, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts) earned the victory in relief of right-hander Kobe McNeely (106 pitches; 5 2/3 innings, 2 runs, 1 hit, 5 walks, 11 strikeouts).

Post 346 was retired 1-2-3 against righty bullpen man Davidson in the top of a scoreless top of the seventh.

Pittman put Lafayette down 1-2-3 in the sixth with a groundout and two strikeouts.

Terre Haute tallied two runs credited McNeely in the sixth to pull even with Lafayette at 2-2.

Conner Brown reached on a one-out walk and scored in front of Brigham Booe on a throwing error. The miscue was made on the same sequence where Booe doubled off the high fence in right. It was Post 346’s only hit of the contest.

After a strikeout for the second out and a walk, Davidson replaced McNeely on the mound for Post 11.

Booe trotted home with the game-tying run on a wild pitch.

The third out was a called third strike by Davidson.

Lafayette broke a scoreless tie with two runs against left-hander Parker Bray (78 pitches; 4 innings, 2 runs, 5 hits, 4 walks, 4 strikeouts) in the fifth.

Dunwoody hit a lead-off single back up the middle and scored when Washington drilled a full-count pitch down the line in left.

That’s when right-hander Luke Lancaster (1 inning, 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts) spelled Bray on the mound for Terre Haute.

A single down the right field line by Bobby Dearing plated Washington with the second run.

The frame ended with a double play — first baseman Brown to shortstop Booe to first baseman Brown.

McNeely put Terre Haute down in order in a scoreless fifth with two strikeouts and a groundout.

Bray retired the side in order in a scoreless Post 11 fourth with two strikeouts and a come-backer.

Terre Haute went down 1-2-3 against McNeely in the fourth with two fly-ball outs and a strikeout.

Bray served up an inning-ending double play — second baseman Edward Newman to shortstop Booe to first baseman Brown — to end a Lafayette rally in a scoreless third.

McNeely struck out the side in a score-free Terre Haute third.

Bray worked in and out of a base-loaded jam in a scoreless Lafayette second.

With one out, Dylan Levesque walked, Dylan Henning singled to left and Eberhart walked before Bray got a called strike and a fielder’s choice to end the threat.

Post 346 left runners at first and second with a pair of walk versus McNeely in a scoreless second.

McNeely racked up a strikeout and a come-backer to end the rally.

Lafayette stranded runners at second and third base against Bray in the bottom of score-free first.

Washington stroked a one-out double to left and Kollyn All drew a one-out walk. Both moved up on a groundout.

The third out came on a called third strike.

Terre Haute left runners at first and second base facing McNeely in the top of scoreless first.

Two of the three outs in the frame were strikeouts, including a called third strike for the third out.

South Bend Post 151 3, Floyds Knobs Post 42 1

Ethan Cummings (81 pitches; 7 innings, 1 run, 5 hits, 4 walks, 4 strikeouts) was the winning pitcher in a tight contest. Nathan Garcia (98 pitches; 6 innings, 3 runs, 3 hits, 5 walks, 2 strikeouts) absorbed the loss.

"Cummings was very tough," said Post 42 head coach Chuck Latham. "That was probably his best outing in a month. He threw a lot of first-pitch strikes and his pitch count wasn't very high at all."

South Bend scored one run in the bottom against Cummings and stranded runners at the corners in the bottom of the seventh.

Andrew Washburn drew one-out walk, moved to second base on J.P.

Kehoe’s single to right. Both runners advanced on a balk. The run scored on a wild pitch as Michael Payne walked on a full-count pitch.

The second out was an infield pop-up. The final out came on a flyball.

"Unlike the other games, we didn't get the big hit," said South Bend coach John Kehoe. "But we still gave ourselves a shot. First and third with the meat of the order (coming up). I'll take my chances all day with those guys."

Coming into the summer, Post 151 was low on pitching. The top three arms either did not take the mound or just for a few innings.

Floyds Knobs left a runner at first base against right-handed reliever John Broden (1 inning, 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout) a scoreless top of the seventh.

Broden hit the lead-off batter. After an error, Broden picked the same runner off second base for the second out. After a walk, the third out was a strikeout.

South Bend threatened but did not score against Cummings in the fifth.

Post 42 turned an inning-ending double play — second baseman Brenden Bube to shortstop Brady Latham to first baseman Luke Stock.

Brandon Martens flew out to the warning track in right for the first out.

Floyds Knobs went down in order against righty starter Garcia in the fifth with two fly-ball outs a a pop-up.

Post 151 left a runner at first base (Payne on a fielder’s choice for the second out) against Cummings in a scoreless fifth.

Post 42 scored one run against Garcia in the fifth.

Bube worked a lead-off walk, stole second base, advanced to third base on Lucas McNew’s single to left and scored when Ryan Robison grounded out — right fielder Broden to first baseman Payne.

South Bend left runners at first and second base against Cummings in a scoreless fourth.

Mason Ryans smacked a single to center and Broden reached on a fielder’s choice before Cummings got the second and third outs.

Floyds Knobs stranded a runner at second base against Garcia in a score-free fourth.

Aaron Brown led off with a bunt single and moved to second base on Cummings’ sacrifice but, but got not further.

Post 151 left the bases loaded against Cummings in a scoreless third.

After an intentional walk to Payne fill the sacks, Cummings coaxed an inning-ending infield pop-up.

Post 42 tallied one run against Garcia in the third for a 2-0 advantage.

McNew rapped a one-out single to left, stole second base, moved to third base on a wild pitch and scored on a fielder’s choice by Stock.

South Bend went down 1-2-3 against Cummings in the second with two fly-ball outs and a groundout.

Floyds Knobs center fielder Brown made a diving catch to retire Ryans for the second out.

Post 42 went down in order against Garcia in second with two groundouts and one fly ball-out.

Post 151 left a runner at second base against Cummings in the bottom of a scoreless first.

Payne cracked a two-out double over the center fielder’s head.

One batter later, the inning ended with a leaping catch by Floyds Knobs third baseman Kellen Northam to take a hit away from Cooper Lee.

Floyds Knobs scored one run against Garcia in the top of the first for a 1-0 lead.

Latham drew a lead-off walk and later scored on to Robison’s sacrifice to foul territory in left.

INDIANA AMERICAN LEGION STATE TOURNAMENT

Friday, July 7

Game 1: Lafayette Post 11 15, South Bend Post 151 1.

Game 2: Terre Haute Post 346 10, Lake Station Post 100 0.

Game 3: Floyds Knobs Post 42 15, Evansville Post 8 7.

Game 4: Kokomo Post 6 7, Cicero Post 341 1.

Saturday, July 28

Game 5: South Bend Post 151 4, Evansville Post 8 0.

Game 6: Lake Station Post 100 10, Cicero Post 321 5.

Game 7: Floyds Knobs Post 42 6, Lafayette Post 11 2.

Game 8: Terre Haute Post 346 9, Kokomo Post 6 2.

Sunday, July 29

Game 9: Lafayette Post 11 3, Lake Station Post 100 1.

Game 10: South Bend Post 151 3, Kokomo Post 6 2.

Game 11: Terre Haute Post 346 14, Floyds Knobs Post 42 3.

Monday, July 30

Game 12: Floyds Knobs Post 42 3, South Bend Post 151 1.

Game 13: Lafayette Post 11 3, Terre Haute Post 346 2.

Tuesday, July 31

Game 14: Floyds Knobs Post 42. vs. Lafayette Post 11, 9 a.m.

Game 15: Game 14 winner vs. Terre Haute Post 346 in championship, following.

MORE LEGION COVERAGE