Staff report
Sidney Post 217’s American Legion baseball team bounced back from a 13-2 loss on Wednesday to edge visiting Ottawa in a 2-0 thriller Thursday night at Custenborder Field.
The win put Post 217 at 5-6 on the season heading into a busy weekend, with doubleheaders today (Saturday) and Sunday, both on the road. The first is at Portsmouth today followed by two at Waverly on Sunday.
Daniel Kearns, fresh off a strong performance as the starter in the Division 4 state championship game last Saturday, pitched eight strong innings, facing just one batter over the limit in going eight innings. He allowed just two hits and did not walk a batter. He wound up throwing just 77 pitches.
Austin McLain worked the ninth and got the save, and he too was impressive, throwing just seven pitches to get three outs.
The two pitchers combined for four strikeouts.
“What a difference a night makes,” said coach Jim Koewler. “This is what I like about baseball. You can come right back after a bad game and redeem yourself without having to wait three days or a week to play again.”
Sidney got the only run Kearns needed in the bottom of the fourth when Dion Puthoff reached on an error and stole second. He then scored on Daniel Berning’s base hit.
It stayed that way until the bottom of the eighth, when Post 217 added a run. CJ Billing was hit by a pitch and took second on a passed ball. Tyler Louden then singled him home.
Sidney had nine hits in all, with Billing getting a single and a double and Evan Monnier two singles.
“We are starting to get most of our players on board now and should be ready to have a good season,” said Koewler.
Upcoming games
Saturday — at Portsmouth, 1 p.m. (doubleheader)
Sunday — at Waverly, 11 a.m. (doubleheader)
Monday — Miami Valley Prospects at Custenborder Field, 7:30
Tuesday — at Troy, 7 p.m.
Thursday — at Greenville, 7 p.m.
Saturday (June 17) — Oak Harbor, 1 p.m. (doubleheader)
Sunday (June 18) — at Lancaster, noon (doubleheader)
