By Danielle Rush
By Tribune sports staff
— Kokomo Post 6 saw its run in the American Legion Junior (17 and under) State Finals come to an end Saturday evening at CFD Investments Stadium in Highland Park. Terre Haute Post 346 beat the host squad 4-3 in the losers’ bracket final of the double-elimination tournament.
Earlier Saturday, Rockport Post 254 beat Kokomo 10-0 in six innings in the winners’ bracket final.
Kokomo rallied to beat Terre Haute 4-3 on Friday, but Terre Haute turned the tables on the junior Sixers in Saturday’s rematch.
Post 6 held a 3-0 lead through four innings of the seven-inning game. Terre Haute exploded for four runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead and it went on for the 4-3 win.
“Really, both teams were wore out because of the heat. We both played earlier in the day,” Kokomo skipper Don Andrews said. “Both teams played well, they just played a little better than us. They out-hit us.”
Kokomo had eight hits in the loss. Marcus Pingleton and Ryan Wingate had two singles apiece and Trevor Marler had a double. Pingleton suffered the pitching loss. Conner Milligan pitched in relief.
In Saturday’s opener, Rockport scored four runs in the second inning to take control and it kept Kokomo at bay the rest of the way.
“It was one of those games where we hit the ball well, we just hit it right at them. We had only four hits, but we had only four strikeouts so we put the ball in play really well,” Andrews said, adding Rockport seemed to find the holes when it put the ball in play.
Cameron Kuntz took the loss for Kokomo.
Kokomo finished its summer run with a 12-22 record and a third-place finish in the state finals.
“To finish third in the state with a young group like we had was very good. I am very proud of the boys. They’ll come back and have a good season again next year,” Andrews said.
