Staff report
Sidney split a doubleheader with Findlay on Sunday on a special day at Custenborder Field.
The day was highlighted by a between-games ceremony dedicating a new sign just beyond the left field fence renaming the Legion baseball field Veterans Memorial Field.
On hand were Parks and Recreation Board members Mary Jannides and Amy Zorn, former Legion coach Wayne Shoffner, Duane Gaier of the Sidney Parks and Recreation Department, and Chuck Morris of Piqua, who is a member of the State Legion Baseball Board.
Also part of the ceremony were Sidney Post 217 commander Rick Lunsford along with fellow Legion baseball committee members Jim Muhlenkamp and Bill Lonsbury.
Special thanks was given to Lochards, Inc., for donating the large frame for the sign, and Tom Finkenbine, for allowing his employee, Matt Platfoot, to donate his time on a Saturday to drill the holes to get the I-beams set to support the sign.
On the field, Findlay took the first game 4-1, with Sidney being outhit 12-7.
For Sidney, Daniel Berning had two singles and Josh Nixon had a double.
Findley got all four of its runs in the fourth and Sidney got its run in the fifth on an RBI single by Austin McLain.
• It was a different story in the nightcap, with Sidney coming away with a 6-5 victory to go into district tournament play this week off a victory.
Sidney was again outhit, but just 12-10.
Berning had two more singles, as did Bryant McCarty. Kyle Noble and Jackson Hobbs both doubled.
Sidney trailed 2-0 before getting a run in the third on a Kyle Subler single. Findlay scored in the fourth, but Sidney got it back on a single by McCarty, a Hobbs double and a suicide squeeze by Jacob Peters.
Berning’s RBI single in the fifth tied it up, and Peters’ RBI single an inning later made it 4-3.
Findlay got two in the top of the seventh to take a 5-4 lead, but Sidney got two in the bottom of the seventh and final inning to pull out a thriller. Berning singled and Noble doubled off the fence in center. Nixon was then walked intentionally to load the bases, and Cam Clark followed with a two-run single to win it.
“These were well-played games on both sides,” said Sidney coach Jim Koewler. “We played a combination of regulars and players that haven’t had a lot of playing time. We had opportunities in the first game but couldn’t capitalize. But we’re playing good ball right now.”
Sidney takes a 28-14 record into district play Tuesday at Greenville against Piqua at 7 p.m.
• Sidney had a doubleheader canceled Saturday because Fostoria was short of players, and it might have been a good thing — they went 11 innings Friday night and pulled out a 6-5 win over Three Oaks, Michigan.
Sidney had 16 hits in the game, with Berning having two doubles and a single, Subler three singles, and Brett McEldowney and Hunter McMurray two singles apiece.
It was 5-5 after Michigan scored a run in the sixth and it stayed that way until the 11th.
Michigan got a one-out double in the top of the inning, but Post 217 kept the visitors off the board. In the bottom of the 11th, Noble and Berning had back-to-back doubles to plate the game-winner.
UPCOMING GAMES
District tournament
Schedule
Tuesday
Sidney vs. Piqua at Greenville, 7 p.m.
Greenville at Troy, 7 p.m.
Wednesday
Tuesday winners play at Greenville, Tuesday losers at Troy, 7 p.m.
Thursday
Loser’s bracket finals at Greenville, 7 p.m.
Friday
Winner’s bracket finals at Greenville (second game Saturday if needed), 7 p.m.
