Sidney Legion learns each outing

Learning continues to be the name of the game for Sidney’s Legion Juniors, who show improvement in each outing, Coach Ray Witt said following a tough 13-12 loss to the Westco Juniors in Scottsbluff.

Holding a three run lead going into the bottom of the seventh and final inning, Sidney logged a quick out with the first batter, but an error allowed the next Westco batter to reach base safely.

A double placed Scottsbluff runners on second and third, and Sidney walked the following batsman to load the bases in hopes of forcing a double play.

Instead, Scottsbluff scored two runs to tie the score, then a passed ball allowed the winning run to cross.

“We really played well,” Witt said. “But we learned that even being up by three, not to let up.”

Witt said Tyler Lenzen provided good relief, entering the game in the third inning.

That performance, combined with the team’s 12 runs on 10 hits, while committing only one error resulting in a score, was a good example of Sidney’s potential.

Last weekend, Witt said the squad also showed that potential in the Gering Senior Tournament.

Playing against teams with older players, Sidney opened the tournament with an 8-0 loss to Chadron Friday then got off to a rough start later in the afternoon before falling 9-1.

Sidney closed out the tournament with an 11-3 win over Hershland.

“The difference between the first and third games was that we didn’t defeat ourselves,” Witt said. Errors were kept to a minimum, fielders were hitting their cutoffs, and solid fielding made the difference, he said.

Tonight, Sidney hosts Gering’s Juniors at 6 p.m. with Hershey coming to town Thursday.