Staff report
Sidney Post 217 appears headed for the No. 1 seed in the postseason Western Ohio League tournament after pounding visiting Troy Post 43 18-7 Tuesday night at Custenborder Field in league play.
The win gave Sidney a 4-0 record, with two of the wins coming over Troy. Remaining for Post 217 is Greenville tonight and Piqua a week from tonight, and both games are at Custenborder Field. Sidney already owns a win over each team.
Overall, Post 217 was 19-7 going into a game at home Wednesday against Dayton Patterson.
“This was another big win for us because of the league,” said Legion coach Jim Koewler. “My guys really came out swinging the bats and our pitchers allowed only five hits and struck out 13. We are on a good roll right now and hopefully we can continue it.”
The game lasted just six-and-a-half innings, ending because of the 10-run rule.
Sidney’s Tyler Louden and Maddux Liles combined on the five-hitter, striking out 13 and walking seven. Louden set down eight of them on strikes and allowed just two hits.
Sidney sprayed 15 hits around the friendly confines, led by Austin McLain’s three singles and four runs batted in. Liles helped his own cause with a single and a double. Dion Putoff also had three singles, and Austin Knapke, Kyle Subler and Dylan Albers all had two singles. Kyle Noble added a double.
Post 217 scored a lot early, plating five runs in the bottom of the second.
Liles reached on an error by the shortstop, winding up on second base. Daniel Berning was then walked intentionally, and Knapke then singled, Noble walked, and Albers, McLain, Puthoff and Kyle Subler all singled.
Troy came back with two in the third on three walks and three wild pitches, but Post 217 responded with five more in the bottom of the third.
Liles again started it off by coaxing a walk, and Berning then singled. Knapke forced Berning at second, but Noble followed with his double, and Albers another single. McLain plated another run with a sacrifice fly, then Puthoff, Subler and Josh Nixon all singled.
It was 10-2 at that point, but Troy scored five times in the fourth to make it close again.
But Troy couldn’t silence the Sidney bats and Post 217 scored four more times in the bottom of the fourth to make it 14-7.
Liles was again the catalyst, starting it off with a two-base hit. Berning then walked, Knapke singled and Noble walked ahead of an error off the bat of Albers. McLain singled in the final run of the inning.
Sidney then put itself in position to win via the run rule with four more runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Albers was hit by a pitch to start the uprising, and McLain and Puthoff followed with singles. Subler, Nixon and Knapke then all reached on errors.
Troy committed six errors in the game.
“We had one of those nights tonight,” Troy Post 43 coach Frosty Brown said. “Do I think we can play with Sidney? Well, last time we got beat in extra innings. But they’re getting better, though. Sidney’s getting better. I thought we were getting better, too, but you couldn’t prove that by tonight.”
Troy fell to 9-15 with the loss.
“We hit the ball well tonight, but you’ve got to give Troy credit. They didn’t lay down,” Koewler said. “They’re not going to lay down. A Frosty Brown-coached team does not lay down. I don’t care if you’re up by 30 runs — they’re going to keep coming at you. And that’s what I told these guys. We got up 5-0, they made it 5-2. We got up 10-2, and I said ‘they’re going to keep pounding at us, boys. You’ve got to keep going up there and hitting the ball.’ ”
Noble, Albers and Subler all drove in two runs each.
Upcoming games
Tonight (Thursday) — Greenville at Custenborder Field, 7 p.m.
Sunday thru 4th of July — Don Cross Invitational, Cambridge
Thursday (July 6) — Piqua at Custenborder Field, 7 p.m.
Saturday (July 8) — Findley at Custenborder Field, doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
