That setback fazed Tonganoxie momentarily.

Post 41 came back with doubleheader sweeps of the Lansing Reds and Leavenworth Post 23.

The team now is 18-6 with its regular-season finale tonight.

After going 2-19 in the spring high school season, the team has found itself in a better mood after doubleheaders this summer.

“We feel pretty good about the season,” Post 41 coach Andy Gilner said. “As a team, we’re realizing we can win ball games.”

The team started the season at 6-5, but has gone 12-1 since then.

The legion league is a bit different than competition the Chieftains faced in the Kaw Valley League this spring. But the team seems to be moving in the right direction in Legion play.

Against Post 23 on Sunday, Tonganoxie scored 18 runs in the first inning. Lead-off batter Hunter Samuels scored three times in the inning and again in the second. He reached base once on a single, twice on walks and once after being hit by a pitch.

In that opening inning, Tonganoxie’s first four batters reached on hits, while the next four all reached on walks.

Kirk Rodell was 4-for-4 with four singles as Tonganoxie defeated Post 23, 18-4, in two innings. Tonganoxie won the first game, 14-4.

Tonganoxie 9-10,

Lansing Reds 1-0

Tonganoxie swept its second doubleheader in as many weeks against the Reds. Post 41 allowed four hits in two games against Lansing. Tonganoxie scored in every inning in the first game for a 9-1 win. In the second game, Post 41 had a 5-0 lead before scoring five more runs in the top of the seventh for the 10-0 shutout.

Tonganoxie 13-3, Geiger 4-11

John Volk was a smash hit when he belted a ball over the fence for a grand slam in the first game. Tonganoxie and Geiger were tied at two entering the inning, but Volk’s big homer was part of a six-run second inning and Tonganoxie eventually won, 13-4.

Gilner said the grand slam was welcome, but he’ll also take base hits from his pitcher.

“John’s been hitting the ball well,” Gilner said. “But he’s got to realize you don’t hit a home run every time.”

After winning the first game convincingly, however, Geiger came back in the second game with an 11-3 victory.

Volk actually hit another home run in the second game. It was a two-run shot that cut the Geiger lead to 4-3, but Geiger responded with two in the fifth and five in the sixth for the 11-3 win.

Zone tournament time

After today’s doubleheader, Tonganoxie will enter an AA zone tournament Friday in Silver Lake.

With Holton, Ozawkie, Nortonville, Silver Lake and the Kansas City Canons also in the tournament, Gilner expects a tough bracket.

“We’re going to get challenged there I think,” Gilner said.

The team also could play in its own league tournament if it doesn’t conflict with the zone tournament later in the week.

If Post 41 wins the Silver Lake tournament, it would advance to state Aug. 4-8 in Wathena.