Senior Legion splits with Salem; juniors strong in Sioux Falls
The Post 152 Senior Legion split a pair of games against Salem Monday night, June 30 in Freeman, losing the first 2-1 while winning the second 1-0.
Hits were hard to come by in the first contest, with Easton Miller and Tayden Kerrigan collecting the only two singles for the 79ers, with the lone RBI going to Miller. Salem, meanwhile, had three hits and did just enough to squeak out the win, scoring the go-ahead run in the fourth inning. Evan Scharberg three 3 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run while walking five and striking out one. Tannen Auch threw 1 1/3 innings of clean ball, striking out two.
In the second game, Miller and Riley Tschetter combined for a no-hitter, with Miller pitching four innings, striking out five, and Tschetter closing it out in the fifth and final inning, striking out two of the three batters he faced.
Miller had two of Post 152’s three hits and Auch had the other. Luke Peters collected the game’s only RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
The 79ers are now 7-6 and are scheduled to play at Alexandria Tuesday night at approximately 8 p.m.
Juniors play in Sioux Falls
The Post 152 Junior Legion was in contention for a championship at the 32-team Sioux Falls Invitational over the weekend after going 3-0 in pool play Friday and Saturday, June 27 and 28, but bracket play was canceled on Sunday because of wet weather.
All games were played at Harmodon Park.
The 79ers defeated Renner 7-3 and Mankato East 8-4 before slipping past Bennington — Post 266 out of Omaha, Neb. — 4-3 in extra innings.
Against Renner early Friday afternoon, Post 152 was powered by Oliver Waltner, whose monster day at the plate included a 4-for-4 showing with two triples and three RBI. Izayah Ulmer also and two singles and Easton Tschetter had a double to help supplement the hitting attack. Lane Pavel collected two RBI.
Riley Keppen drew the start for the 79ers and three five innings of six-hit ball, giving up three earned runs, walking three and striking out four. Tayden Kerrigan pitched two innings of one-hit ball, striking out two and walking two.
Then against Mankato East later Friday afternoon, Post 152 trailed 4-1 in the sixth inning but scored seven runs in the bottom of the frame to take control. Those seven runs came in part on back-to-back doubles by Tschetter and Kerrigan, and the 79ers also took advantage of walks, errors and one hit-by-pitch in that game-changing sixth inning.
Kerrigan’s two hits and two RBI led the offense while Waltner picked up the win on the mount, giving up three hits and one earned run in 4 2/3 innings pitched, striking out two and walking two. Garret Lehr drew the start for the 79ers, pitching 2 1/3 innings and giving up two hits and one earned run, while walking two.
Then on Saturday, Post 152 won a dramatic game over Bennington Post 266, walking it off 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The 79ers took a 2-0 lead early thanks to RBIs from Kerrigan and Waltner in the first and third innings and led 2-1 going into the seventh, but Bennington took advantage of an error to tie the game and force extra innings.
Bennington then took a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth, but Post 152 responded thanks to an RBI single by Waltner that tied the game. The 79ers then held Post 266 in the top of the ninth and won in the bottom of the inning after loading the bases and then scoring the winning run on an infield error.
The 79ers were seeded fourth in the single-elimination championship bracket based on record and runs scored and runs allowed in pool play and were scheduled to face Mankato West in the first game on Sunday. Three more wins would have secured the championship.
The Post 152 Junior Legion is 10-1 and is scheduled to face Alexandria Tuesday night at 6 p.m.
