The Salem 14u stepped up in competition this past weekend playing in the South Central 15u Fathers Day Tournament in Kinmundy. Salem opened the tournament with a 5-4 win over the Newton 15u WarEagles. Scout Puricelli drove in a run and Silas Lux hit a grand slam in the 6th to put Salem ahead. Jaxon Ward, Kyler King, Drake Rector and Landon White shared the pitching duties.
On Saturday, Salem beat the SC 14u 9-2. Logan Butts was 3-3 with 3 RBI and Lux drove in 2 more runs. King, White, Rector and Nicholi Marhanka pitched well allowing just 2 hits. Damon Jennings flashed the glove at 3rd making several plays including a double play to end a bases loaded threat.
In bracket play, Salem beat the Central Illinois 15u Eagles 10-9 in comeback fashion. Butts went 3-4 with a grand slam and drove in 5 runs. Ward hit the walk-off double scoring Lux. Puricelli pitched 6.1 innings allowing 2 hits and 1 run, King got the final 2 outs.
Salem’s tournament came to an end in the semifinals to the SC 15u 6-1. Ward pitched well allowing 3 hits in 5.1 innings. Jennings had 2 hits with singles from Marhanka and Lux.