Errors Again Doom Legion Seniors

Sidney's American Legion Post 17 Senior baseball team hosted the Gering Platte Valley Companies Post 36 squad at Legion Field on Wednesday, and again the defense was plagued by multi-error innings that lead to a 10-to-0 defeat in a run-rule shortend five inning game.

The Seniors drop to 4-and-6 on the season, and all four victories have come against the Bridgeport Bombers. Sidney faced a Gering team that had just defeated them 9-to-1 in the consolation game of the PVCC Tournament on Sunday,

Sidney's Dante Petersen started strong on the mound, getting three quick groundouts to retire the side in order. Gering's Quinton Janecek took the mound and Sidney leadoff batter Kyler Lenzen hit a soft shot to third base, and a hurried throw pulled the first baseman off the bag, giving the Seniors a runner on first. After Lenzen move to second base on a passed ball, a Grant Campbell bunt attempt was hit too sharply back to the pitcher, preventing Lenzen from advancing to third. After Janecek threw to first to retire Campbell, Lenzen took off for third but was cut down by a strong throw by first baseman Adreick Conn to give Sidney two outs with nobody on base. Izaak Glanz then grounded out to end the inning.

Gering's Riley Gaudreault led off the second inning with a double, which was followed by a squibb infield hit by Brady Radzymski to give the vistors runners on the corners with no outs. After a groundout, Conn was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jack Franklin then hit a ground ball that third baseman Jackson Witt misjudged and missed, scoring Gaudereault and keeping the bases loaded. Jerod Balthazor then grounded into fielder's choice, but a throwing error allowed two runs to score, giving Gering a 3-to-0 lead with a runner on first and two outs. Janecek then balsted a triple, driving Balthazor home from first and exteding the lead to 4-to-0. Ryley Hoke then struck out to end the top of the second inning.

Sidney's Tommy Ellwanger singled after Jackson Witt flied out to start their half of the second inning, but Ellwanger was caught stealing by a strong throw by Brady Radzymski. Sam Hashman then struck out to end the inning with Sidney trailing by four runs. In the top of the third, after a single and passed ball put a runner on second, a throwing error by Witt to first base allowed a run to score from second. Then another error at second base scored another, followed by a double by Justin Scott that drove home yet another run. When Balthazor struck out to retire the Gering offense, the score stood at 7-to-0 and the Sidney Seniors needed to get back into the game quickly.

Petersen led off the bottom of the third inning by beating out an infield single on a close play, then stealing second base. Paul Houser then walked, and Nathan Hofrock bunted but the lead runner was thrown out at third, keeping Sidney with runners on first and second with one out. Kyler Lenzen then hit a foul ball past first base, but Adreick Conn made a diving catch to retire Lenzen for the second out. Sam Hashman then grounded out, and the Sidney offense was turned away again.

A fourth inning rally for Gering again started with another Sidney error when Ellwanger misjudged a fly ball, scoring a run that reached on a walk. Lenzen then came in to relieve Petersen, and Gaudreault greeted him with a single up the middle, then he advanced to second on the throw home which was too late to stop another run from scoring and extending the Gering lead to 9-to-0. After a passed ball and a walk to Radzymski, Gering was able to score another run when Radzymski was caught in a run down between first and second base. A foul out by Justin Scott ended the inning with with a 10-to-0 Gering lead.

The bottom of the fourth started well for Sidney with Glanz driving a single to lead off the inning. After another hit and a walk, the bases were loaded with no outs. Sam Hashman was caught looking at strike three for out number one, Dylan Nielsen also was called out looking, then Paul Houser struck out swinging to end Sidney's best and last chance of breaking through against Janecek. Neither team was able to score in the fifth inning, and with Gering leading by eight or more runs, the game was ended with a final score of 10-to-0.

Petersen got the loss, going 3.1 innings and giving up nine runs, but only two were earned. He gave up five hits while striking out three and issuing two walks. Lenzen pitched 1.2 innings in relief, giving up one earned run, two hits and a walk.

Sidney's offense only produced five hits in the game, while the defense committed seven errors. Gering tallied seven hits in the game, and committed no errors.