The Kenosha Kings pounded out 20 hits and capped the game with a 10-run ninth inning in a 17-3 victory over the Brookfield Bulldogs on Thursday night at Zirkel Field.

The Kings improved to 8-5 in the Langsdorf League and 14-6 overall.

“Really, it was a close game through six innings,” Kings manager Tim Pulizzano said. “We put our hitting shoes on.”

Leadoff hitter Andrew Highland went 5-for-6 with a triple and four runs scored to lead the offensive onslaught.

Other offensive leaders were Ross Conwell (3-for-6, two doubles, three RBI), Joe Ferro (3-for-5, double, two RBI), John Hasser (3-for-3, double) and Mike Fuchs (2-for-5, two RBI).

That was more than enough for Kings starter Chad Ori, who gave up two runs on seven hits in six innings. He walked three and struck out five.

Frank Cook, Kyle Stone and Chris Wolcott all pitched an inning of relief.

The Kings play four Wisconsin State League games this weekend against the Eau Claire Cavaliers at Carson Park. They play a doubleheader 11 a.m. Saturday and a doubleheader 1 p.m. Sunday.

Post 21 opens 1-1

The Kenosha Legion Post 21 Merchants split a pair of pool play games in the 35-team Metro East Wood Bat Showcase Tournament of Champions on Thursday.

Playing at Lloyd Hopkins Field in Alton, Ill., the Merchants defeated Pekin (Ill.) Post 1232, 10-6, and were shut out by Alton Post 126, 10-0 in five innings.

The Merchants (22-4) took a 10-0 lead into the fifth inning against Pekin, but had to sweat out a victory.

After Pekin loaded the bases with none out in the seventh, reliever Luke Olson induced a double play and got a game-ending groundout.

Post 21 scored five runs in the first inning and added two more in the second and one in the third.

Shawn Miller went 3-for-4 with two triples, one RBI and three runs scored and Joel Bergmann went 3-for-3 with two RBI. Ricky Steinke and Nathan Welch both had two hits.

Ryan Lewer picked up the win. He allowed six runs (three earned) on four hits in six innings. He walked six and struck out five.

The Merchants managed only three hits vs. Alton. Brandon Dahl was tagged with the loss.

Post 21 plays two more pool play games today starting at 3 p.m.

Twins win 11-10

Unable to hold a seven-run lead, the U-19 Kenosha Twins had to rally for two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning for an 11-10 victory over Union Grove on Thursday at Carthage.

The Twins took advantage of three errors in a six-run second inning. Eric Carter highlighted the frame with a two-run single. Alex Newberry also scored on the play when the throw to the plate got past the catcher. Trailing 9-2, Union Grove took advantage of three Twins errors to tie the game in the fifth.

The game remained tied until the top of the eighth when Union Grove’s Scott Heitzel crushed an RBI triple off Eric Corrao to the deepest part of the park.

In the bottom half of the inning, Brad Hughes led off with his second double of the night. After Tyler Panasewicz walked with one out, Corrao reached on an infield hit. Hughes was able to score the tying run on an error. Nick Paura then plated the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly to left center.

“It’s easy after an inning like (the fifth) to hang your head and end up losing the game,” Twins coach Mike Tennyson said. “Our guys stayed in the game and kept fighting, even after surrendering the lead in the eighth. It would have really hurt to lose that one.”

Corrao (3-0) picked up the win in relief and also went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Hughes and Alex Pencak also went 3-for-4 and Hughes scored three runs.

Bobcats roll 14-3

The U-16 Kenosha Bobcats collected 12 hits in five innings and cruised to a 14-3 victory over the Illinois Indians at Concordia University in River Forest, Ill.

Dustin Eschbach led off the game with a triple and scored to give Kenosha an early lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

Jack Kugler had three hits, Eschbach and Patrick Venn had two hits apiece, and Peter Drummond, Adam Widder and Michael Swift all added extra-bases hits. Joe Wagner and Nick Wise both had two RBI.

Widder allowed one hit in four innings for the win.

The Bobcats will take on Pro Player Academy 10 a.m. today.