Blain Prater has become a complete player this summer.
The speedy Festus Post 253 American Legion center fielder erases many fly balls going to his right or left. At the plate, Prater batted .340 in 71 plate appearances and had four doubles and tied with teammate Cameron Beck for a team-high 12 stolen bases.
Prater hit his first home run of the season Tuesday night in Post 253’s 6-2 victory over Rock Memorial Post 282 in the second round of the District 13 tournament in Ste. Genevieve.
Prater was the starting pitcher for Festus Thursday night (No. 2 seed) against Ste. Genevieve (No. 1) at Yanks Field in the semifinals of the double-elimination district tournament. Prater hurled a complete game in about two hours as Post 253 beat Post 150 9-1.
De Soto (No. 5) and Bonne Terre (No. 4) were scheduled to play Thursday night following the Festus/Ste. Gen game but after an hour or so of lightning in the area and heavy rain at times, the game was postponed and will be played tonight (July 14) at 5 p.m. The winner advances to play Ste. Genevieve at 8 p.m. in the loser’s bracket final.
Festus will play the survivor of that game in the district championship Saturday at 5 p.m. If Post 253 loses that game, another will be played at 8 p.m. to decide the district winner.
District 13 senior American Legion tournament
Double-elimination format July 10-15
at Yanks Field, Ste. Genevieve (after the first round)
Seeds: 1. Ste. Genevieve Post 150; 2. Festus Post 253; 3. Rock Memorial Post 283; 4. Bonne Terre Post 83; 5. De Soto SMCI; 6. Perryville Post 133
July 10: De Soto 5, Bonne Terre 4 (10 innings); Rock Memorial 8, Perryville 5
July 11: Ste. Genevieve 15, De Soto 5 (7 innings); Festus 6, Rock Memorial 2
July 12: De Soto 9, Perryville 0; Bonne Terre 19, Rock Memorial 7
July 13: Festus 9, Ste. Genevieve 1; De Soto vs. Bonne Terre (postponed)
July 14: De Soto vs. Bonne Terre, 5 p.m.; Ste. Genevieve vs. De Soto/Bonne Terre, 8 p.m.
July 15: Championship 5 p.m.; championship, 8 p.m. (if necessary)