Nolie Homer Provides Edge For Sullivan

Blayten Nolie’s two-run homer in the fourth inning Wednesday provided the difference in a 7-6 win for Sullivan 18U against Eureka.

Nolie staked Sullivan to a 7-3 lead, but Eureka charged back with three runs in the fifth.

Alex Branson struck out Austin Welde with the bases loaded and Eureka threatening to pull ahead. 

The game was called after five innings.

Sullivan bounced back from a 12-2 defeat in the season opener against Washington one night earlier.

It was their first triumph in a league of various former legion teams and St. Louis County area squads created in the wake of Missouri American Legion baseball being canceled in 2020.

The past week was the first time many area players have competed in a sport since winter.

The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) called off the 2020 spring season before the first game could be played and teams were only able to get in a little more than two weeks of practice.

Sullivan, which features several players from what would have been the 2020 high school team, sent Logan McCummiskey to the mound against Eureka.

McCummiskey was a 2019 Four Rivers Conference selection and he held the former Post 177 in check.

He struck out eight over 3.2 innings, allowed two hits, one earned run and two walks.

Eureka scored twice in the second on a two-out, two-run single by Issac Powers. McCummiskey struck out Drew Hansel to end the inning.

Sullivan answered with a big inning.

Sam Turilli keyed a five-run frame with a leadoff double, taking third on a wild pitch. Tyler Hopen was hit by a pitch and with two outs, Turilli scored on a double steal.

Josh Wiese tied the game with a single to center to score Hopen. Garrett Mullen put Sullivan ahead with a two-run single to right, making it 4-2. He would later score on an error at third.

McCummiskey cruised into the fourth inning, getting Robbie Dutton to pop out and striking out Kyle Timm. 

He walked Niko Munk, which brought Branson in for relief.

Branson walked the first three batters he saw, which scored a run to cut Sullivan’s lead to 5-3. 

The inning ended when Powers was caught trying to steal home.

In the bottom of the fourth, Wiese led off with a single and scored when Nolie lined a 3-2 pitch over the fence in left, helping Sullivan claim a 7-3 lead.

Eureka made Sullivan sweat as Branson walked Welde and Ty Hastings to start the fifth.

After getting two outs on five pitches, Branson surrendered an RBI single to Oren, making it 7-4.

Munk and Powers followed with RBI singles to pull Eureka within 7-6.

After a four-pitch walk to Jack Burke, Branson struck out Welde on three pitches to preserve the win.