Staff Reports
SIDNEY — A trio of pitchers combined to shut out Napoleon Legion 3-0 as the Sidney Post 217 legion baseball team picked up a victory Thursday at Custunborder Field.
Daniel Kearns, Cheyne Tate and Cam Clark combined for eight strike outs and three walks while scattering five hits in the victory.
“This was a well-played game on both sides,” Post 217 coach Jim Koewler said. “We had two errors in the game, but we were able to overcome them by not letting any damage happen after the errors. I have been stressing to the players that with our timely hitting — and if we play solid defense — we are going to win our share of games.”
Sidney took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Bryant McCarty got things started with a single, then moved to second on Tat’s sacrifice bunt. Carter Mescher singled to drive in McCarty.
The score would stay 1-0 until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Post 217 added another run. Kyle Subler led off with a single, then moved to second on McCarty’s sacrifice bunt. Zach White then reached base on an error by the Napoleon second baseman, which also allowed Subler to score.
Napoleon would mount a serious offensive threat in the top of the eighth inning, when the leadoff hitter belted a double. Post 217’s pitching would stiffen, however, not allowing Napoleon to advance the runner.
Post 217 would add an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Subler reached on an error, then stole second base and moved to third on a wild pitch. Tate followed with an RBI single.
In the top of the ninth, Napoleon loaded the bases when the first three batters reached base on a walk, an error and another walk. Clark came on in relief and slammed the door shut, however, striking out the next three batters to pick up the save.
Clark also had a pair of singles in the game, as did Dakota Bollinger.
With the win, Sidney Post 217 improved to 5-5. Sidney opened play in the Ottawa Tournament Friday. Results from Sidney’s Friday contests against Pickerington Post 283 were not available at press time.
Post 217 will play at 3 p.m. today against Findlay Post 3 at Bluffton.
The tournament semifinals will be played Sunday at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at Memorial Field in Ottawa. The consolation games will be played at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at Bluffton.
The championship game will be played at 3 p.m. Sunday at Memorial Field in Ottawa.
The Ottawa Tournament will be broadcast over the Internet at Zsportslive.com.
To contact sports editor Ken Barhorst, send am email to [email protected]
