Beckett, Sellers Pitch Sullivan Past Elsberry

Cooper Beckett and Cooper Sellers pitched around three Sullivan errors and led the Post 18 freshmen to a 5-4 win over Elsberry Post 226 on June 17 in a non-league game.

Sullivan had to claw back from a 4-0 deficit to pull out the victory.

Beckett went two innings, struck out two, allowed one hit and three runs (zero earned). Sellers went three innings and allowed two hits, one earned run, one walk and one strikeout.

Colton Ward was 1-2 with two RBIs. Carter Dace and Sellers also were credited with RBIs. Post 18 had just three hits, but drew five walks and took advantage of two errors.

Elsberry jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

After Beckett walked Dylan Niemeyer and allowed a bunt single, Justin Jennewein reached on a fielder’s choice that put runners on the corners. Beckett struck out the next batter he faced. An error at third base allowed both runs to cross the plate and give Post 226 the early advantage.

Beckett ran into trouble in the second, but got out of it by inducing a double play off the bat of Jennewein.

Elsberry scored two more runs in the third off an error and a wild pitch.

Sullivan finally broke through in the fourth inning. Jacob Brooks led off with a walk and stole second. Alec Bell walked, then Ward drove a double to center field, scoring both runs.

Ward advanced to third on a passed ball, then came in when Sellers launched a sacrifice fly to center, cutting Elsberry’s lead to 4-3.

Andrew Bell drew a walk and Blayten Nolie hit a liner to short that wasn’t handled, putting runners on first and second. They pulled off a double steal, but Bell scored on an error at third base, tying the game.

Nolie scored on a sac fly from Dace, which put Sullivan on top 5-4. With two outs, Braden Carey was hit by a pitch, Beckett walked and Brooks drew a free pass to load the bases. A long inning finally came to a close when Alec Bell grounded out.

Sellers was able to pitch around the tying run getting on base in the fifth. After a one-out walk, he recorded a strikeout and groundout to preserve the win.