Today's Sports

After a doubleheader at Effingham was canceled last Wednesday, the twin bill was moved to Tuesday at Vandalia, in what would be an important night for the Post 95 Senior Legion team as it heads into the district tournament this weekend.

With a sweep of Effingham, Vandalia could find itself as the No. 1 seed going into the tournament.

Vandalia was able to hold up its end of the bargain, downing Effingham twice behind solid pitching from Caleb Randle, Kyle Hawkins and Andy Hosick.

Since football was reinstated at Vandalia High School in 1950, the Vandals have had 12 winning seasons. Of those 12, one season jumps out more than the others – the 1963 season, in which the Vandals went 9-0.

On June 17, Don Schnake, 82, the architect of the Vandalia's lone perfect season, died following a short battle with lung cancer.

Schnake spent eight years on the sidelines as head coach of the VCHS football team, compiling a record of 29-34. He had two winning seasons during his tenure, the perfect season of 1963 and an 8-1 mark in 1964.

The Senior Legion had a busy week, playing seven games in as many days, winning three games and picking up a sweep of a talented Lawrence County team on Saturday. Post 95 is 10-8 this summer.

Granite City 11

Vandalia 1

Vandalia lost to Granite City, 11-1, on Monday night. Trevor Montgomery, who has made few spot starts with the Senior Legion team, went 2-for-3 from the designated hitter spot. Cody Wimberly went 2-for-2 with a walk. Vandalia had six hits.

Slowly, but surely, the Senior Legion team is coming together this summer.

Eight games into the season, the Post 95 squad has a record of 5-3, with most of its wins coming with depleted squad.

Patoka High School's deep run into postseason play delayed the arrival of Luke Murfin and Zach Thompson, who will both be key additions on the mound and at the plate. Add in that a couple of the big bats from Vandalia's high school team aren't playing this summer, and the Senior Legion outlook started to look bleak.