Miscues lead to Post 129 loss to Wheeling
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
CHILLICOTHE — Hillsboro Post 129 was close, but a couple miscues and a bit of confusion led to a 6-5 loss Friday morning to Wheeling Post 1 at VA Memorial Stadium in the second annual Jim Jadwin Memorial Tournament in Chillicothe.
Hillsboro and Wheeling each held the lead at various points in the game, but it was a single run in the bottom of the sixth which put Wheeling ahead for good.
Post 129 (7-13) threatened in the top of the seventh with Jared Halley drawing a walk on a full count to lead-off the inning. Next, two fly outs were recorded, then Derek Peters kept the inning alive with a walk on a 3-1 count. Both base runners were left stranded as Andrew Kowalo forced another fly out to end the game, as he earned the save in 0.2 innings pitched in relief.
"We will win the close ones," Hillsboro Post 129 head coach Scott Morgan said. "We'll get there."
The winning pitcher was Eric Crow of Wheeling, and the loss went to Hillsboro's Camden Vinup, who pitched one inning in relief for starter Luke Taggert (five innings).
Post 129 totaled 10 hits and six walks, with Wheeling collecting eight hits and five walks.
"The main thing is we are playing much better," Morgan said. "We have minor things we have to clean up. We are getting hits, and getting the key hits with runners in scoring position, which we weren't earlier this summer.
"With a young team, the improvement will continue to come."
Hillsboro was first to plate runs, as they scored twice in the top of the first. Austin Merkle reached first on a walk and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Vinup. He moved to third on a ground out and scored on an errant throw in the infield.
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Tyler Griego (2-for-4) doubled, eventually scoring on a base hit by Halley (2-for-3), as Griego slid home for the second run.
The game was tied at 2-2 with Russell Schwertfeger (2-for-4) and Nate Bakitis scoring runs off RBIs by Jesse Hartley and Domenic Ellis for Wheeling in the bottom of the first.
Post 1 took a 3-2 lead after three innings with Kowalo scoring on an infield error by Hillsboro, in an inning where the umpires had to have a lengthy discussion which led to the run and an out at second base off a fly ball call.
The score was tied the next half inning as Merkle (1-for-1, three walks, three runs) scored on a line drive single through the middle of the infield by Vinup. Merkle reached the bases with a double to left field and took third on an errant throw in the same sequence.
Post 129 took a 4-3 advantage with Zach Docter (2-for-4) batting in Halley with a two-out base hit to left field. Halley reached first base on a fielder's choice and went to second on an errant throw. Halley went to third on a ground out.
Wheeling took another lead at 5-4 during the bottom of the fifth. Scoring the two runs were Kowalo and Ellis. Earning the RBIs were Justice Jackson (a line drive single to left field) and a bases-loaded walk by Tyler Ashbrook.
Again, Post 129 didn't let up by tying the score at 5-5 in the top of the sixth. Peters (two walks), who walked to lead off the inning, scored on a base hit to right field (with two outs) by Corey Walker.
Post 129 will play a second game on Friday as they face Berkley Post 374 at 1:30 p.m. at Ross County Park in Chillicothe.
Hillsboro and Wheeling each held the lead at various points in the game, but it was a single run in the bottom of the sixth which put Wheeling ahead for good.
Post 129 (7-13) threatened in the top of the seventh with Jared Halley drawing a walk on a full count to lead-off the inning. Next, two fly outs were recorded, then Derek Peters kept the inning alive with a walk on a 3-1 count. Both base runners were left stranded as Andrew Kowalo forced another fly out to end the game, as he earned the save in 0.2 innings pitched in relief.
"We will win the close ones," Hillsboro Post 129 head coach Scott Morgan said. "We'll get there."
The winning pitcher was Eric Crow of Wheeling, and the loss went to Hillsboro's Camden Vinup, who pitched one inning in relief for starter Luke Taggert (five innings).
Post 129 totaled 10 hits and six walks, with Wheeling collecting eight hits and five walks.
"The main thing is we are playing much better," Morgan said. "We have minor things we have to clean up. We are getting hits, and getting the key hits with runners in scoring position, which we weren't earlier this summer.
"With a young team, the improvement will continue to come."
Hillsboro was first to plate runs, as they scored twice in the top of the first. Austin Merkle reached first on a walk and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Vinup. He moved to third on a ground out and scored on an errant throw in the infield.
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Tyler Griego (2-for-4) doubled, eventually scoring on a base hit by Halley (2-for-3), as Griego slid home for the second run.
The game was tied at 2-2 with Russell Schwertfeger (2-for-4) and Nate Bakitis scoring runs off RBIs by Jesse Hartley and Domenic Ellis for Wheeling in the bottom of the first.
Post 1 took a 3-2 lead after three innings with Kowalo scoring on an infield error by Hillsboro, in an inning where the umpires had to have a lengthy discussion which led to the run and an out at second base off a fly ball call.
The score was tied the next half inning as Merkle (1-for-1, three walks, three runs) scored on a line drive single through the middle of the infield by Vinup. Merkle reached the bases with a double to left field and took third on an errant throw in the same sequence.
Post 129 took a 4-3 advantage with Zach Docter (2-for-4) batting in Halley with a two-out base hit to left field. Halley reached first base on a fielder's choice and went to second on an errant throw. Halley went to third on a ground out.
Wheeling took another lead at 5-4 during the bottom of the fifth. Scoring the two runs were Kowalo and Ellis. Earning the RBIs were Justice Jackson (a line drive single to left field) and a bases-loaded walk by Tyler Ashbrook.
Again, Post 129 didn't let up by tying the score at 5-5 in the top of the sixth. Peters (two walks), who walked to lead off the inning, scored on a base hit to right field (with two outs) by Corey Walker.
Post 129 will play a second game on Friday as they face Berkley Post 374 at 1:30 p.m. at Ross County Park in Chillicothe.