Hillsboro American Legion Post 129 baseball hosted a wood bat tournament from Friday, June 16 – Sunday, June 18. Post 129 did well over the weekend finishing with a .500 record at 2-2. The tournament featured 10 teams from across Ohio, and required that players use wooden bats as opposed to the typical aluminum bats.
As previously reported Post 129 played their first two games on Friday winning their first game by a score of 5-3 and falling in the second game by a score of 7-2. Post 129 also competed in two games on Saturday winning their first game by a score of 8-3 and again falling in the second game by a score of 10-5.
The visiting team scored one run in the top of the first inning as a result of the lead-off batter reaching base after being hit by a pitch. He went on to score on a single by the clean-up hitter.
The first game of the day for Post 129 was an offensive display for the host team. Payton Bell got things started for Post 129 with a lead-off single and went on to steal second. Timmy Crone was up next with a single of his own to advance Bell to third base, Crone went on to steal second base as well. Caleb West loaded the bases for Post 129 when he drew a walk. Cayse Cameron was hit by a pitch in the next at bat recording an RBI before he even got to swing the bat. Kelton Anderson was next with an RBI single of his own to score Crone from third base. Evan Brill joined the hit parade for Post 129 with a two RBI single that scored West and Cameron, giving Post 129 a 4-0 lead before a single out was recorded. Avery Wilson recorded the first out for the home team on a fielder’s choice that scored Anderson. Bell added an RBI single that scored Brill from third to put Post 129 ahead 6-1 after the first inning.
The visiting team scored another run courtesy of the lead-off batter in the top of the third inning to bring the score to 6-2 after three innings.
Post 129 added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth inning when Bell scored on a sacrifice fly by West to increase the home team’s lead to 7-2 after four innings.
Crone scored his second run of the night in the bottom of the sixth inning, after reaching base on an error and West belted an RBI double increasing Post 129’s lead to 8-2.
The visitors added a third run in the top of the seventh inning but were unable to deny Post 129 the victory by a score of 8-3.
The second game of the day was not as kind to Post 129 despite a hot start in the first inning of the game. Bell was able to reach base in the lead-off spot after being hit by a pitch. Crone followed up with a single placing runners on first and second for the home team. Anderson stepped up in a big way for Post 129 as the fifth batter of the game for his team when he pounded a three-run home run over the outfield fence to score Bell, Crone, and himself.
Post 129 showed an improved defense that didn’t allow a run until the bottom of the third inning. The lead-off batter and the two man both scored in the inning for the visiting team from Westerville.
Post 129 clung to a 3-2 lead as they headed into the bottom of the fourth inning after failing to score in the top of the fourth inning. Westerville made the home team pay in the bottom of the fourth inning as the bottom of the order scored three runs to take a 5-3 lead into the fifth inning.
The top of the fifth inning saw Bell and Crone both score for the second time when Anderson launched a two RBI double to tie the game at five apiece.
Westerville put the finishing touches on the game in the bottom of the sixth inning when the middle of the order managed to score five consecutive runs against a suddenly porous defense to take a five run lead into the seventh and final inning.
Post 129 went down in order in the top of the seventh inning to end the game.
Post 129 is scheduled to play a double header on Tuesday against Chillicothe Post 757 at Mary Lou Patton Park at 5:00 p.m.
Reach Ryan Applegate at 937-402-2572, or on Twitter @RCApplegate89.
