Juniors, Seniors sweep Hershland

Though Sidney's Keaton Wakefield drove a fastball over the right-field fence in the opener of a twin bill at Legion Park Tuesday evening, he was just getting warmed up.

In a couple of high scoring affairs, the Sidney American Legion teams advanced their respective records past .500 with a double header sweep over Hershland. The juniors (2-1) first outlasted their guests 13-11. The seniors (4-3) then finished off a nail biter 10-9.

Starter Erik Doty earned the win for the juniors while Ben Goble finished it off for the save. Austin Pile picked up the victory for the seniors, with Colton Onstott preserving the win in relief. Onstott pitched the elder group out of a bases loaded, no-out jam in the fifth.

While Wakefield was a productive offensive weapon in both games, he was also integral in the most bizzare play of the night--perhaps in many a night. With the bases loaded in the bottom half of the fifth inning of the opener, three runs scored when Wakefield struck out.

When the ball got away from the Post 279 catcher Justin Weir, Wakefield scampered to first after a run scored. Though first base was occupied, the force was deemed by the umpires to have been removed when the runner crossed home plate. First base became available when the loose ball sent the previous occupant to second.

Eventually all three original baserunners scored for Sidney when a throwing error added to the mayhem.

Wakefield tallied soon thereafter on a shot by Zach Means that was booted at short. Before the dust settled Sidney had turned a narrow 7-6 lead into a more comfortable one at 11-6.

The seniors game was near as wild though they never trailed in the night cap. After Pile kept the visitors quiet in the opening half inning, Sidney struck three times in the closing half.

Still warm from the juniors contest, Wakfield doubled with the bases loaded to score Colton Onstott and Scott Phillips. Onstott found his way to the base paths after being hit by a pitch and cleanup hitter Phillips walked.

"It's been getting better than it has been," said Wakefield of his recent positive trend at the plate. "I'm getting more confident and seeing the pitches better."

Post 17 tacked on its third run via a wild pitch which gave Kyle Burton his ticket home.

Though the locals gave two runs back in the second, the damage was minimized by an entertaining inning ender. The play went from catcher Onstott to second baseman Jason Hagerman to third baseman Burton.

Sidney continued to keep the offensive pressure up througout the seven-inning affair. Post 17 scored in every inning until the last. Meanwhile, Hershland continued to tack on runs too, but never enough to get a share of the lead.

"We're starting to come together as a team better now," said Bradey Holtz as Pile and Onstott shook their heads in agreement.

The team continued to gel in its half of the third. Wakefield, who added a pair of walks to his two doubles in the night cap, earned his first pass to open the home third. Skyler Arent and Mitch Rolls followed an out later with two more free trips to first.

Holtz knocked in the first run of the inning and seventh of the night with a well-struck single. Pile then sent Arent home with a sacrifice fly.

Wakefield belted his second run-scoring double in the fourth inning while Onstott tallied the final run on a wild pitch in the fifth.

By this time Onstott had already taken the hill in relief of Pile. The Sidney starter had opened the fifth on the mound by yielding a single and hitting another batter before being removed.

Holtz followed Pile on the hill but after issuing two walks - the second of which drove in a run - he too was removed. Onstott then shed the catchers gear in favor of a pitchers glove. The move put Burton behind the plate and sent Holtz to field the hot corner.

"My arm was getting pretty tired by then," said Pile. "I'd thrown over 90 pitches and there wasn't much left."

Onstott doused the bases loaded, no out fire by keeping his first three hitters off balance. He opened by inducing Landan Massen into a first base (Arent) to catcher (Burton) force at the plate. With the bases still loaded Onstott struck out Colton Marshall. Justin Wier then hit a comebacker to the Sidney hurler to end the threat.

"I was throwing fastballs, changeups and curveballs," said Onstott. "My curve was probably working the best of all of them today."

Though Sidney allowed its ninth run in the seventh, the win was preserved by a game ending 6-4-3 double play.

Sidney takes to the road on Friday when both squads make a visit to Ogallala. The juniors get it started at 5 p.m. with the seniors to follow.

The juniors continued to pile on runs after the bizarre strike out. They added their final two after Tyler Bergstrom, Ben Goble and Bret Jaggers loaded the bases with one-out singles. Two more crossed when Mitch Rolls hit into a force on a play which was aided by some sloppy ball handling.

Byron Rowley helped insure the win when he made a head-long dive for a line drive in right field in the top of the seventh. The ball found the webbing of Rowley's leather as he flew low through the air. His outstretched arm pulled in the prize just above the grass-blade tips.

Wakefield hit his home run in the fourth inning with one out and the sacks empty. The ball floated high over Legion Field before settling over the right-field fence with plenty to spare.

Linescore

Hershey 022 310 1 - 9

Sidney 332 110 X - 10

WP: Austin Pile

LP: Kaden Copeland

Save: Colton Onstott

Doubles:

Sidney - Keaton Wakefield 2

Hershey - Landan Massen

Triples:

Sidney - Colton Onstott

Hershey - None

Home Runs:

Sidney - None

Hershey - None