KOKOMO, Ind. — Napoleon Post 300 picked up a pair of victories on day one of its trip to the Hoosier State for the Kokomo Post 6 Junior Wood Bat Classic, defeating South Haven (Ind.) Post 502 3-1 in its first contest before rallying for an 8-6 win in game two against Kokomo Post 6 Juniors.

The pair of victories boosted the River Bandits’ win streak to eight straight games.

The opening triumph saw Napoleon (16-5) take an early 1-0 lead in the second inning on a two-out double by Parker Hancock (Tinora) before Cam Bukowski (Bryan) boosted the lead to 2-0 with a two-out RBI knock in the third inning.

Hancock added a second RBI in the sixth, following a leadoff triple by Cade Carlin (Bryan) with a run-scoring single, an insurance run that backed up a gem on the mound from Anthony Singer (Fairview) for the Bandits.

Singer allowed one unearned run on an error in the fifth inning, scattering seven hits with zero walks and four strikeouts.

In the second contest, Post 6 Juniors staked out a 3-0 lead through the first four innings with Kokomo pitcher ??? holding the River Bandits without a hit for the first 5.2 frames until a single by Singer broke up the bid.

Napoleon cut into the early deficit in the top of the fifth when an error allowed Elijah Arend (Fairview) to score from third after a pair of walks in the inning. Logan Stein (Tinora) plated Maddox Baker (Edgerton) on a groundout to get the Bandits within a run.

Kokomo appeared to be in firm control by plating three runs in the bottom of the sixth – all with no outs – with only one hit. After a passed ball allowed a run to score and make the lead 6-2, Arend tightened up and struck out three straight batters with the bases loaded to limit the damage.

In the top of the seventh, Napoleon exploded. Zack Boecker (Holgate), Baker and Tripp Langenderfer (Archbold) each reached base to load the bags. Bukowski got the rally going with a two-run single to halve the deficit to 6-4. Jackson Poynter (North Central) drew a bases-loaded walk while Arend tallied an RBI single to tie the game. Hancock followed with an RBI sacrifice fly to put the Bandits ahead before Poynter scored from third on a passed ball.

Boecker earned the win thanks to a scoreless seventh inning that saw him strike out two of the four batters he faced to clinch the comeback win. Starter Owen Reynolds (Tinora) struck out eight in five innings of work.

Napoleon will face the Kokomo Post 6 Senior team (11-5-1) in a 9 a.m. tilt Saturday before taking on Muncie (Ind.) Post 19 (13-3) at around 11:30 a.m. and rounding out the weekend Sunday against Stevensville (Mich.) Post 568 on Sunday morning.

South Haven;000;010;0;-;1;7;1

Napoleon;011;001;x;-;3;9;1

Records: Napoleon 15-5, South Haven 7-5-1.

Winning pitcher: Anthony Singer (7 innings, 1 run, 0 earned, 7 hits, 4 strikeouts, 0 walks).

Losing pitcher: Zach Terek (4 innings, 2 runs, 4 hits, 3 strikeouts, 0 walks). Other: Kyle Smith.

Leading hitters: (South Haven) – Braden Olson 2 singles. (Napoleon) – Parker Hancock single, double, 2 RBIs; Cade Carlin triple.

Napoleon;000;020;6;-;8;4;1

Kokomo Jrs.;102;003;0;-;6;8;2

Records: Napoleon 16-5, Kokomo 5-5.

Winning pitcher: Zack Boecker (1 inning, 0 runs, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts, 0 walks). Others: Owen Reynolds, Elijah Arend.

Losing pitcher: Kaden Ruble (0.2 innings, 3 runs, 2 earned, 2 hits, 0 strikeouts, 3 walks). Other: Kabren Roe.

Leading hitters: (Napoleon) – Cam Bukowski 2 RBIs; Maddox Baker 2 runs. (Kokomo Juniors) – Graysen Phifer 2 singles, double, 2 runs; Hagen Smith 2 singles, double, 2 RBIs; Kabren Roe 2 singles.