Alton Clinches First-Half Division Crown In 11-5 Win Over O'Fallon

(Photo by Nathan Woodside)

From the Alton River Dragons:

ALTON, Ill. - The Alton River Dragons are the first half champions of the Prairie Land Division!  

With an 11-5 victory over the O'Fallon Hoots Saturday at Lloyd Hopkins Field, the second-year River Dragons clinched the division's first half title, and a spot in August's Prospect League playoffs.  Alton is assured of hosting a one-game divisional playoff game on Sunday August 7th and will now spend the next 31 games going for their best possible overall record and home field throughout the playoffs.

In a position to clinch with a win on Saturday, the River Dragons jumped out to a 6-0 lead through three innings. Kurtis Reid started it with a straight steal of home and Ben Gallaher had a three run double in the first inning. Blake Burris added a RBI single in the second and Gallaher came through with another RBI hit in the third.

Up 6-0, Colton Huntt was solid on the mound through five innings, but O'Fallon mounted a rally pulling to within 6-4 and 7-5 in the game.

However, the River Dragons added a run in the seventh to make it 8-5.  Then in the eighth, a throwing error scored another to expand the lead tp 9-5.  Eddie King Jr. sealed the win with a two-run homer and it was 11-5.

Following Huntt, Matthew Romero and Noah Bush bridged the game to Justin Needles who struck out the final batter to end the game.

The River Dragons are 17-2 and have won five of their last seven.

With two hits, King expanded his personal hit streak to 17 games and his homer is his team leading seventh. 

Gallaher finished with three hits and four runs batted in. 

Reid also had three hits, his first such game this season.