LINCOLN – In six missions that summer, Post 210 right-handed Isaiah Ruch had struck 20 strokes in 15.2 innings.

On Saturday afternoon in the American Legion Fourth Division’s tournament opener against Shelby County, Ruch increased his game and showed a masterful pitching performance.

Ruch hit eight of the top 10 thugs he faced and the soon-to-be Danville Area Community College Jaguar tossed a four-hit shutout with 12 total strikeouts as the Post 210 Speakers advanced into Sunday’s championship game with an 8-0 win over Shelby County.

Post 210, which improved to 15-3 with the win, got all the offensive it needed in the first inning when Rance Bryant led a double in the middle, advanced after a pass to the third and scored on Brody Sexton’s sacrificial fly to Center.

In the third inning, the speakers added three more runs, with the combination of Bryant and Sexton striking again. This time, Bryant reached an infield single, went into second place, and scored left on Sexton’s single.

Ruch followed with a double and the third baseman Andy Onnen made the 4-0 with his 2-run double to the left, which Sexton and Ruch scored.

Post 210 added a run in the fourth run on an RBI single from Brady Howard, and the Speakers put the game down with a 4-run fifth followed by a 2-run double from Josh Young and a run scoring single highlighted by Tuff Elson.

Ruch retired the first 10 batter he faced, and Shelby County didn’t get a single runner past first base as they only managed four singles and Ruch didn’t go a single batter in his shutout for the entire game.

Post 210 will play either Lincoln or Shelby County in the first championship game at Lincoln Community High School today at 3:30 pm. The speakers only need one win to claim their fifth division title in a row.

If Shelby County or Lincoln beat Post 210 on Sunday, the double elimination tournament would be extended until Monday with a winner-take-all title game at 6:30 p.m.

LEGION BASEBALL

Fourth division tournament

At Lincoln

Post 210 Speaker 8, Shelby County 0

Shelby County `000`000`0` — `0`4`3

Speakers`103`130`x` — `8`10`0

WP – Isaiah Ruch (5-1) LP – Ethan Clark. Two or more hits – Shelby County: Kade Allen 2. Narrator: Rance Bryant 2, Andy Onnen 2. 2B – Narrator: Bryant, Onnen, Ruch, Josh Young. RBIs – Speakers: Onnen 2, Young 2, Brody Sexton 2, Brady Howard, Tuff Elson.

records – Post 210 speakers 15-3 in total.

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