Staff report
PORTSMOUTH — Sidney Post 217 went above the .500 mark for the first time this season by sweeping Portsmouth in a doubleheader on Saturday on the road in American Legion baseball action.
The first game ended 5-1 and the nightcap lasted just five innings when Post 217 rolled up a 13-0 lead. That’s how it ended.
The two wins gave the team a 7-6 record heading into another doubleheader Sunday at Waverly.
In the first game Saturday, Zach Griesdorn was outstanding on the mound, scattering six its while striking out seven.
Sidney had 10 hits, with Tyler Louden getting three singles, Daniel Berning a single and a double, Austin McLain two singles, Keaton McEldowney a triple and Zach White a double.
Sidney scored twice in the top of the first, with Austin McLain singling and racing home on McEldowney’s triple. McEldowney then scored on a groundout off the bat of Maddux Liles.
Sidney got another run in the second on Louden’s single, a sacrifice bunt by Elliott Bruns, and White’s double.
Sidney came back with another run in the third on a walk to McEldowney and singles by Liles and Berning.
The final run came in the top of the fifth, with CJ Billing reaching on an error, followed by a double from Berning and a single from Louden.
In the second game, Billing allowed just one hit and struck out three in the five-inning game.
Post 217, meanwhile, lashed out 14 hits in the game. Maddux and Carter Mescher both singled and doubled, Berning, Louden and Dylan Albers both singled twice, and Kyle Noble had a double.
Sidney got one in the first on a sacrifice fly by Noble, then exploded for six more runs in the top of the second.
Louden and Mescher both singles and Jarred Siegel sacrificed them to second and third. Albers and McLain then singled and both moved up on a wild pitch. Liles singled, Noble doubled and Berning singled, with the final run coming across on a passed ball.
Post 217 then added five more in the fourth. McEldowney singled and Liles doubled, and after a passed ball, Noble lifted a sacrifice fly to score a run. Berning and Louden then singled and Mescher doubled.
The final run came in the fifth without a hit. A hit-by-pitch, two errors and a groundout produced the unearned run.
“We had two real good games at the plate,” said Sidney Post 217 coach Jim Koewler. “We totaled 24 hits, and also got two well-pitched games by Zach (Griesdorn) and CJ (Billing). The only bad thing were the three errors in the second game, but CJ overcame them and pitched a one-hitter. Our bats really came to life today and hopefully we can continue that as we head into league play this week against Troy and Greenville.”
Upcoming games
Monday — Miami Valley Prospects at Custenborder Field, 7:30
Tuesday — at Troy, 7 p.m.
Thursday — at Greenville, 7 p.m.
Saturday — Oak Harbor at Custenborder Field, 1 p.m. (doubleheader)
Sunday — at Lancaster, noon (doubleheader)
Monday (June 19) — Columbus Bruins at Custenborder Field, 7:15
