Sidney bombards Gering

So far this season, Gering has had Sidney figured out. While Post 17 only lost six times this season, Gering has been responsible for two of them - both one run games.

But that was then.

Sidney (13-6) erased all memories of past difficulties versus their respected district opponent with a 21-1 five-inning thrashing of Gering at Legion Field on Thursday night.

Sidney's 15 hit barrage in 29 at bats gave them a better than .500 batting average on the night. Add five more who reached via a walk, two hit by pitches and another five safe because of Gering errors.

Among the many offensive stars of the night, Barrett Browne maintained his form of the previous night at Ogallala. Browne followed up his hard RBI double of Wednesday night by going three-for-three with three runs scored, two stolen bases and three RBI.

"I feel like I'm getting in the swing of things," Browne said. "When the whole team is hitting like this it seems a little easier."

Colton Onstott, Tyson Herrera and Kane McLaughlin were in the swing of things, as well. McLaughlin drove across two runs in each of his three official at bats. His streak was broken when he drew a walk in the fourth inning.

Herrera continued his hot hand with a two-for-three night. He scored three times.

Onstott was two-for-three incluing a hard two-RBI double he ripped in the third inning. Onstott collected a total of four RBI on the night.

"I like hitting in the second spot, I feel like I'm getting back in the groove," said Onstott, who was moved from cleanup spot on Tuesday against Alliance.

Since Onstott stepped into the two slot three games ago he has racked up a five-for-12. At Ogallala on Wednesday he nearly smashed a home run. It might have cleared the fence, if not for a 22 mile per hour wind that helped blow his long drive foul.

Among the more unusual stats of the game, every starting player had at least one hit and one run scored. That's what they call a team win.

In the second inning Sidney sent 13 hitters to the plate and scored 10 runs. The Legion Field scoreboard could only acccomodate one digit per inning so it read "0" for the home second. Post 17 sent 12 more to the plate in the third inning and scored seven runs.

On the other side of the ledger, starting pitcher Herrera (2-0) made sure this would be a one-way affair. He gave up just three hits and two walks and one unearned run for the complete-game victory. He also struck out six Gering batters in five innings.

"I felt really good out there. My arm didn't hurt at all," said Herrera, who showed up late this spring after attending college in Texas. "It's taken me a little while to get back in form, but everything's come together now."

His father and head coach agreed.

"Tyson looked really sharp out there, he's back in good baseball form," said Tim Herrera.

A scary moment in the game occured in the third inning. Sidney first baseman Ty Ottoson was involved in a collision with Dillon Demott and lay on the ground for several minutes. Though he was removed from the game with bruised leg, he is expected to be ready to play within several days coach Herrera said.

The shorthanded juniors were involved in a two-sided slugfest as they fell to Gering 20-14. With players either out with injury or at basketball camp, the juniors only had nine players to start the game.

Kyle Burton led the Post 17 juniors offense with three hits, two runs scored and four RBI. Blake Bayne collected three hits, inlcuding a double and two RBI. He also stole two bases. Austin Wilson and Jason Hagerman had two hits apiece. Wilson's night included a double, three runs scored and two RBI.

Full coverage of this morning's 10 a.m. junior game versus Gordon at the Gering Tournament will be in Saturday's edition. The Sidney juniors will then face Alliance on Saturday at 3 p.m. Sunday's opponent will be determined by seeding.

The seniors are off until Tues., June 25, when they host Chadron as part of a junior-senior doubleheader.

After their productive 4-0 week against division opponents, Coach Herrera will give his team the weekend off.