Sidney swept by Gering

GERING, Neb. – Though the Sidney Legion Post #17 seniors came off a successful stretch by winning three of four games at their own tournament last weekend, they used a lot of pitching in the process

As a result, Sidney's tired arms and difficulty dealing with the Gering starter led to an 8-0 defeat in five innings on Tuesday evening at Oregon Trail Park.

On the other hand, the juniors have not played a game in six days and may have needed a little time to shake off some of the rust. With the juniors struggling to get through the later innings, Gering came back from a three-run deficit to topple Sidney 13-8 in the opener.

"We knew coming in we would be thin on pitching after playing four games over two days," said Sidney head coach Ray Witt of the seniors. "In the juniors game, we had those two bad innings that cost us."

Connor Langrell started the juniors game and finished with a no-decision after hurling the first three innings and surrendering three unearned runs. Arik Doty come on in the fourth inning and took the loss, while Jackson Witt pitched the final inning.

Two errors in the opening frame helped Gering erase most of the advantage Post #17 had gained with their three spot in the first. Another pair of miscues led to the third unearned run in the third.

Sidney was quick to score the games first run courtesy of a Doty double in the opening frame. His drive scored Keaton Wakefield for a 1-0 lead. After Doty's base knock, Post #17 soon loaded the bases when Zack Means walked and Langrell was hit by a pitch. The final two runs of the inning came home on an error and a balk.

Leading just 3-2, Spencer Ellwanger put Sidney back up by two when he knocked an RBI hit through the middle to plate Means in the third. Sidney's highwater mark came in the fourth. Though Means was robbed by Gering shortstop Dalton Scott on a shot up the middle, he did pick up an RBI as Brett Jaggers scored to make it 6-3. Sidney was ultimately undone when Gering scored five runs in two of the final three innings.

"We'll be fine," said Means of the juniors. "We have a few more games before districts and I'm sure we'll all be in the right frame of mind to play well. We believe we can win."

Sidney's final two runs came courtesy of a two-out single by Brett Jaggers that scored Ellwanger and Wakefield. Ellwanger, who reached base three times in the game, opened the fifth with a single and Wakefield later walked.

In the seniors game, Hagerman struggled to get through the first inning as he gave up four runs as Gering smacked three extra-base hits. Esai Hernandez and Austin Reynold doubled in the inning and Brenden Brester drove a home run over the left-center field fence.

"Hagerman went out and did his job and Gering did their job," said Witt. "Give Esai credit too. He pitched a great game and gave up only one hit."

Jaggers was the only Sidney player to manage a hit as he reached on an infield single in the second inning. The only other baserunners for Sidney were Bradey Holtz, Langrell and Hagerman. Holtz made his way to first by taking four balls, while Langrell and Hagerman were both hit by Hernandez pitches.

Though Hagerman surrendered five runs in the first two innings, he settled in to retire six straight hitters in the third and fourth innings.

Sidney is back on the diamond on Wednesday in another important district game. The juniors open up at Alliance at 5 p.m. with the seniors to follow at 7:30.

TUESDAY’S LEGION BOXSCORES

Juniors

Gering 13, Sidney 8

Sidney 301 220 0 – 8 7 5

Gering 201 505 x – 13 8 4

Sidney: Connor Langrell, Arik Doty (4), Jackson Witt (6) and Arik Doty, Garrett Langrell (4). Gering: Austin Abbott, Luciano Montanez (5) and Dylan Radzymski.

2B: Arik Doty (S), Chris Palomo (G).

Seniors

Gering 8, Sidney 0

Sidney 000 00 – 0 1 1

Gering 410 03 – 8 13 0

Sidney: Jason Hagerman, Ben Goble (5) and Bradey Holtz. Gering: Esai Hernandez and Austin Reynolds.

2B: Esai Hernandez (G), Austin Reynolds (G), Quentin Timblin (G) HR: Brendan Brester.