Sidney Seniors open season with a bang

It was all downhill after the first inning for Sidney’s American Legion squad in Wednesday night’s season opener.

Fortunately, the Seniors pounded out 10 runs in that frame, on their way to an 11-0, five inning whitewash of visiting Hershland.

“We have to hit the ball—put hits together,” reported head coach Tim Herrera, feigning disappointment over the outcome. Over the final three innings his team indeed managed only one single, a shot off Hershland pitcher Josh Connell’s hand by Austin Pile.

But in the first, Sidney hammered four extra-base hits, starting with Devon Sullivan’s leadoff triple.

“I came out nervous,” Sullivan admitted, “but I got a pitch I could hit.”

The ball sailed into right center, beyond the reach of Hershland’s Kaden Copeland. By the time Copeland corralled it, Sidney’s speedy leadoff hitter had reached third standing up.

Lane Harvey was hit by a pitch, Tyson Herrera drew a walk and the seniors were off to a dream start: bases jammed with Colton Onstott stepping to the plate.

The big catcher responded by banging a double into left, driving in Sullivan and Harvey. Centerfielder Kane McLaughlin, a transfer from the discontinued Oshkosh team, followed with another two-run double, this one to right.

“I decided to just swing for contact,” McLaughlin said. “I gave it a poke.”

Two Hershland miscues, a pair of walks and a couple hits—including a Harvey three-bagger—later, Sidney held a 10-0 first inning lead.

From there, starter Austin Crane and reliever Scott Phillips cruised.

Crane fanned four while giving up one hit in two innings of work. Phillips—sent to the mound to save the starter’s arm for weekend work—allowed just two base runners over the final three frames.

“They both pitched real well,” Herrera observed.

Behind the mound, Sidney put solid defense on display. The team committed just one harmless error. Meanwhile Harvey registered a nifty put out from short, timing a high hopper expertly. McLaughlin’s diving grab in center opened a one-two-three final inning.

“We just felt comfortable,” the centerfielder said, shaking off any opening day jitters. “We just played.”

The 11-0 win capped a successful night for Sidney’s Legion squad. The Juniors captured the first game, as well, overwhelming Hershland 13-2 behind the bat work of Blake Bayne, Schyler Arent and Jason Hagerman, who combined to rack up six of the team's eight hits.

Sidney travels to the Gering tournament this weekend, where they expect to face a talented field.

“We’ll really see what we have,” Herrera said of the competition at Gering. “The season’s going to get tougher.”

Hershland 000 00 – 0 2 4

Sidney 10 010 x – 11 6 1

WP: Crane (1-0)

LP: Johnson (0-1)

2B

Sidney: Onstott, McLaughlin

3B

Sidney: Sullivan, Harvey

HR

None