The Salem 11u Little League All Stars are headed to State after this weekend’s Sectionals at Beardstown. Salem opened up with a tough 10-9 loss to Champaign East. Trailing 9-5 heading into the final inning, Salem plated 4 runs to tie the game up at 9. Salem would give up a walk with the bases loaded to drop a heartbreaker. Owen Tennyson doubled going 3-4 with 2 RBI and 3 runs scored. Colton Tockstein and Zane Applegate also drove in 2 with RBI from Rhett Starnes and Jared Crompton. Bentley Bryan had a single and 2 runs scored, Kai Graham had 2 hits and 2 runs and Trygg Aaron added 2 hits.
Salem bounced back and punched their ticket to state with a 16-6 win over the hosts from Beardstown. Salem jumped out early with 9 first inning runs and never looked back. Tennyson tripled and doubled twice as he drove in 2 and scored 3 times. Rhett Starnes added a double with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. Also driving in 2 runs, Bryan and Colton Tockstein. Graham, Applegate, Jax Schaubert and Drew Consolino also had RBI.
Salem advances to the State Tournament which is held this year in Champaign.