Legion Juniors Collect Three Wins

Sidney's American Legion Junior team had a busy week, winning three and losing one to raise their record to 9-and-5 on the season.

The week started when the Juniors hosted the Alliance First Nation Spartans Junior team on Tuesday, and Micah Schneider was able to retire the side without any damage after giving up a lead off single. Luke Kasten led off the Sidney inning with a walk, and was able to score on a Dietrich Lecher grounder that was misplayed for an error to give Sidney an early 1-to-0 lead.

A two out single in the top of the second tied the score at one, but Sidney was able to re-take the lead in the bottom of the frame with Sawyer Dickman scoring from third on a wild pitch.

The third inning started badly for Schneider as he hit the lead off batter, then got worse as a triple, another batter hit by a pitch, and more hits capped by an inside-the-park home run by Alliance's Kellen Muir ended the third with the Spartans leading 10-to-2.

Alliance tacked on four more runs and the game ended in a run rule shortened five inning loss for Sidney, 14-to-2. Dietrich Lecher had two hits in three at bats to lead the Sidney offense.

The Juniors next traveled to Brush, Colo., on Saturday for tournament play, and faced the Brush BMS Beetdiggers in the first game. Jaeden Dillehay got the start and quickly registered the first two outs, but a walk and an error in the outfield by Lecher got the Beetdiggers on the board with a 1-to-0 lead.

Sidney immediately got their offense in gear, with back-to-back singles followed by back-to-back walks to set the table for a big inning. By the end of the frame, the Juniors had plated seven to take an early big lead against the Beetdiggers. Sidney added four more in the next inning, while the Beetdiggers were unable to even muster a hit in their remaining at bats, and Sidney cruised to a run-rule shortened four inning 11-to-1 victory.

Both Luke Kasten and Sawyer Dickman had 2 RBI each, while Jacob Dowse and Ethan Reichman each had two hits in the game. Dillehay pitched three innings giving up 1 run, while Jacob Dowse pitched the fourth to complete the game with no hits against the Sidney staff.

The Juniors next faced the East Central Badgers, and starter Sidney Luke Kasten issued a lead off walk to begin the inning. A single to centerfield had the Badger's Jordan Rockwell trying to score, but he was thrown out at home by Jaeden Dillehay. The trailing runner advanced to third on the out, and was able to score on a ground out to give the Badgers a 1-to-0 lead early. Badgers pitcher Camden Bledsoe retired the Sidney batters in order to end the first, but the Badgers were unable to add any runs in the second. Sidney took their turn at the plate, and were able to string together a series of hits and productive outs against Bledsoe into runs. Also capitalizing on errors and aggressive base running, Sidney built up a 5-to-1 lead, and shut down the Badger's offense for the rest of the contest. Sidney won the game by a final score of 5-to-1, with Luke Kasten giving up only one run on three hits over five innings.

Sidney's final game pitted them against the Fort Morgan Mustangs Junior team, and featured the Sidney boys falling behind then methodically clawing themselves back for an exciting finish.

Sawyer Dickman started the game for Sidney, and gave up back-to-back singles to in the first inning. The Mustangs were able to push across one run with three straight fly outs to take an early lead. Sidney finally struck back in the bottom of the second, after Jacob Dowse was hit by a pitch and Swayer Dickman singled to start the inning. Dowse scored on a fielder's choice, then Luke Kasten drove in two more with a line drive single to centerfield. The Mustangs were able to get their offense together, collecting base hits, walks, and a double to plate six runs and give the Mustangs a 7-to-3 lead. But Sidney fought back, scoring two in the third inning and another in the fifth to narrow the Mustang's lead to 7-to-6

In the Mustang's final at bat, Micah Schneider came in to pitch in relief, and gave up three walks in a row to load the bases. But the Mustangs then flied into a double play, then Schneider induced a ground out to first to escape the inning without giving up any more runs. Sidney got their last licks in the bottom of the fifth, and were able to get runners on first and second with one out after Jacob Dowse was hit by a pitch and Sawyer Dickman singled.

Jaeden Dillehay then bunted the runners over to second and third, setting the table for Cameron Leeling. After working the count to 2-and-2, Leeling delivered a ground ball single to centerfield that scored Dowse and Dickman, giving Sidney the come from behind 8-to-7 walk off victory. Luke Kasten had two hits, two RBI, and scored a run, Leeling went 2-for-3 with two RBI, and Dillehay had three RBI in the victory.