Post 129 rally falls short against Piqua
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
HILLSBORO — Early runs and a late rally didn't add up for the Hillsboro American Legion Post 129 baseball club Tuesday night, as they fell 10-9 to Piqua at Shaffer Park in a scheduled nine-inning game.
Hillsboro has started the season 0-4 overall with two losses to the Columbus Braves (4-0, 17-7) and individual losses to the Cincinnati Storm Club (5-2) and the aforementioned loss to Piqua.
"We had trouble finding the strike zone on the mound (Tuesday)," Post 129 head coach Ritchie Butler said. "We gave them runners, and it haunted us. We just had too many walks and defensive miscues.
"This is a typical slow start when you combine kids from different schools. It takes a while to gel and for us as coaches to see what they can do together on the field. We played better (Tuesday). We hit the ball hard."
On Tuesday, the Post 129 team led early, 2-0 off a home run to left-centerfield by Paul Snyder (Hillsboro) with Bryce Bean (East Clinton) on the bases in the bottom of the third inning. Snyder finished 2-for-2 with two RBIs, one hit by pitch and two walks. Bean also tallied two hits in the game.
After that home run, the Post 129 club lost the lead with Piqua scoring one run in the fifth. They added three more in the sixth and broke the game open with a six-run seventh for their 10 runs.
Hillsboro countered with two runs in the sixth, two in the seventh, one in the eighth and two in the ninth, as they stranded the game-tying run at third base and the game-winning run on second as Piqua struck out the final batter to seal the win.
For Hillsboro in the sixth, Snyder and Nick Bush (Wilmington) scored runs. Snyder scored on a passed ball.
In the seventh, Kyle Carson (Fairfield) and Snyder scored runs off Dustin Taylor (McClain) being hit by a pitch and Stephen Pappas singling to right field to score Bush. Taylor also had a sacrifice in the seventh inning.
The eighth inning for Hillsboro saw Luke Taggert (Whiteoak) scored on a passed ball with two outs.
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In the ninth, Pappas and Taggert scored a two-run single by Bean for the eighth and ninth runs of the game for Post 129.
The loss was charged to Austin Merkle (Clinton-Massie). Merkle pitched 5 2-3 innings. Merkle allowed three runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks, while striking out four. Also pitching for Hillsboro were Joey Wilson (Fairfield), Corey Walker (Hillsboro) and Carson.
"Austin had a strong start, but he just ran out of gas," Butler said. "We'll be OK though … our upcoming road trip to Chillicothe and then to Troy over the weekend is where the kids will become more familiar with one another and get to know each other better."
Zach Docter (Whiteoak) had a hit in the second inning for Post 129.
The game that was rained out on Friday scheduled against Washington C.H. Post 25 has been rescheduled for July 15.
Post 129 will play again Wednesday as they will travel to face Chillicothe Post 757 at Mary Lou Patton Park in Chillicothe.
In their season opener against the Cincinnati Storm Club on Saturday, Post 129 had scored two runs with Tyler Griego (Hillsboro) scoring in the sixth and Taggert adding a run in the ninth.
In the second game of their twin bill against the Columbus Braves (a 17-7 loss) on Sunday, Walker, Snyder and Derek Peters (Fayetteville) all scored runs in the first inning. Walker scored another run in the second, along with Casey Jordan (Fairfield). In the fifth, Post 129 added two more runs by Snyder and Wilson. In their first game against the Braves, Post 129 was shut out 4-0.
BOX SCORE
P — 000 013 600 — 10
H — 002 002 212 — 9
Hillsboro has started the season 0-4 overall with two losses to the Columbus Braves (4-0, 17-7) and individual losses to the Cincinnati Storm Club (5-2) and the aforementioned loss to Piqua.
"We had trouble finding the strike zone on the mound (Tuesday)," Post 129 head coach Ritchie Butler said. "We gave them runners, and it haunted us. We just had too many walks and defensive miscues.
"This is a typical slow start when you combine kids from different schools. It takes a while to gel and for us as coaches to see what they can do together on the field. We played better (Tuesday). We hit the ball hard."
On Tuesday, the Post 129 team led early, 2-0 off a home run to left-centerfield by Paul Snyder (Hillsboro) with Bryce Bean (East Clinton) on the bases in the bottom of the third inning. Snyder finished 2-for-2 with two RBIs, one hit by pitch and two walks. Bean also tallied two hits in the game.
After that home run, the Post 129 club lost the lead with Piqua scoring one run in the fifth. They added three more in the sixth and broke the game open with a six-run seventh for their 10 runs.
Hillsboro countered with two runs in the sixth, two in the seventh, one in the eighth and two in the ninth, as they stranded the game-tying run at third base and the game-winning run on second as Piqua struck out the final batter to seal the win.
For Hillsboro in the sixth, Snyder and Nick Bush (Wilmington) scored runs. Snyder scored on a passed ball.
In the seventh, Kyle Carson (Fairfield) and Snyder scored runs off Dustin Taylor (McClain) being hit by a pitch and Stephen Pappas singling to right field to score Bush. Taylor also had a sacrifice in the seventh inning.
The eighth inning for Hillsboro saw Luke Taggert (Whiteoak) scored on a passed ball with two outs.
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In the ninth, Pappas and Taggert scored a two-run single by Bean for the eighth and ninth runs of the game for Post 129.
The loss was charged to Austin Merkle (Clinton-Massie). Merkle pitched 5 2-3 innings. Merkle allowed three runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks, while striking out four. Also pitching for Hillsboro were Joey Wilson (Fairfield), Corey Walker (Hillsboro) and Carson.
"Austin had a strong start, but he just ran out of gas," Butler said. "We'll be OK though … our upcoming road trip to Chillicothe and then to Troy over the weekend is where the kids will become more familiar with one another and get to know each other better."
Zach Docter (Whiteoak) had a hit in the second inning for Post 129.
The game that was rained out on Friday scheduled against Washington C.H. Post 25 has been rescheduled for July 15.
Post 129 will play again Wednesday as they will travel to face Chillicothe Post 757 at Mary Lou Patton Park in Chillicothe.
In their season opener against the Cincinnati Storm Club on Saturday, Post 129 had scored two runs with Tyler Griego (Hillsboro) scoring in the sixth and Taggert adding a run in the ninth.
In the second game of their twin bill against the Columbus Braves (a 17-7 loss) on Sunday, Walker, Snyder and Derek Peters (Fayetteville) all scored runs in the first inning. Walker scored another run in the second, along with Casey Jordan (Fairfield). In the fifth, Post 129 added two more runs by Snyder and Wilson. In their first game against the Braves, Post 129 was shut out 4-0.
BOX SCORE
P — 000 013 600 — 10
H — 002 002 212 — 9