Staff report

Sidney split a twin bill with visiting Pemberville in American Legion baseball action at Custenborder Field Saturday, dropping the first game 2-1, then taking the nightcap 5-0.

The verdicts put Post 217 at 3-4 going into a doubleheader Sunday at Ashland.

In the first game, Sidney’s CJ Billing did the pitching, allowing eight hits while striking out three and walking one.

Sidney managed just three hits, all singles.

Post 217’s only run came in the bottom of the sixth when Keaton McEldowney singled, was bunted to second by Austin McLain, and scored on a Maddux Liles single.

• In the second game, coach Jim Koeler told his squad they needed to be more aggressive at the plate, and it worked. Post 217 had seven hits, including two singles by Zach Griesdorn, a triple by Kyle Noble and doubles by Liles and Dylan Albers.

Sidney got a run in the bottom of the second when Noble tripled and Griesdorn singled him home.

Sidney got three more in the third when McLain walked and scored on a double by Liles, who then scored on a single by Griesdorn. After a passed ball, Griesdorn scored on a single by Zach White.

Sidney added its final run in the sixth on a walk to White, a stolen base and Albers’ double.

Elliott Bruns pitched the shoutout, striking out five and walking nine on a six-hitter.

“In the first game, were went three-up and three-down in four of the seven innings. And in two of the other three innings, we only sent four batters to the plate,” said Koewler. “Even the inning when we scored our only run, only five batted. So we didn’t give CJ (Billing) much support. In the second game we got another good pitching job from Elliott, and we were much more aggressive at the plate.”

Upcoming games

Monday — at Lima Locos, 7:05

Wednesday — Napoleon at Custenborder Field, 5:30

Thursday — Ottawa at Custenborder Field, 7 p.m.

Saturday — at Portsmouth, 1 p.m. (doubleheader)

Sunday — at Waverly, 11 a.m. (doubleheader)