Brock Netter, Staff Writer
CHILLICOTHE — Waverly Post 142 manager Jonathan Teeters admits that every time the annual Jim Jadwin Memorial Tournament comes around, the Shockers haven’t exactly had success.
“For some reason when the Jadwin comes around, we don’t play very well,” Teeters said. “But we have a lot of experienced guys on this year’s team who love the game.”
But, so far, this time around looks to be much different.
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA
After defeating Chillicothe Post 757 by a 7-5 final to start the tournament Friday morning, the Shockers (6-4) turned around and made quick work of Hillsboro Post 129 by an 11-1 count in five innings at Unioto High School.
“We’re getting back to having fun,” Post 142’s Tanner Cunningham said. “Last year, we had a 12-game winning streak and we were having fun playing. Now, this is three straight wins and we’re playing with that same amount of fun.”
After Hillsboro scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first following a bases loaded hit by pitch, 142 starter Hunter Lahrmer shook off early nerves on the hill and got dialed in.
After that first inning run, 129 didn’t score the rest of the game.
As a matter of fact, Hillsboro registered just four hits throughout the rest of the game. Lahrmer earned the win in 3 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and striking out four batters.
“My curve ball was working really well,” Lahrmer said. “Mixing it along with my two-seam and four-seam fastball kept [Hillsboro] off-balance. The guys put up some runs in the second and that just gave me a bunch of confidence to just pitch my game.”
While Lahrmer did what he does on the bump, the Shockers did what they do at the dish … pounding out 13 hits in the process.
The team piled up six runs in the top of the second via RBI singles from Tucker Tackett and Scott Lightle, an RBI double from Cunningham, an RBI triple from Ian Gillen and a two-run double from Derek Eblin.
From that point on, 142 scored two runs in the third and fourth before tallying the final run in the fifth to put a seal on the win.
“We’re swinging the bats really well,” Teeters said. “The guys aren’t swinging at balls out of the zone, which is what quality baseball players do. They came ready not just for this game, but all day and it showed in the results.”
Weston Roop threw 1 1/3 innings of relief while striking out a trio of hitters. At the plate, Gillen was 3-for-3 with a triple, two runs and an RBI while Cunningham finished 2-for-4 with two doubles, a run and four RBIs. Eblin ended the day 1-for-3 with a double, a run and two RBIs.
In the win over 757, Cade Powell was 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs while Gillen finished 2-for-4 with an RBI. Cunningham got the win on the hill, throwing four innings and striking out three.
Post 142 is back in action tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. against Toledo Post 553, followed by a 2 p.m. battle against Greenville Post 140.
Both games will be played at Chillicothe High School.
Chillicothe Post 757 falls to Waverly 142, Steubenville 33
CHILLICOTHE — While Waverly started its tournament run on the right foot, Chillicothe 757 suffered two losses … coming at the hands of the Shockers and Steubenville Post 33.
After falling to Waverly, the Colts (8-5) dropped a 9-3 decision to Steubenville.
In the loss to 142, Chillicothe’s Caleb Foglesong led the offense, going 2-for-3 with an RBI while Connor Mullins finished 2-for-4 with a double and a run. Chad Ison suffered the loss, tossing 6 2/3 innings and allowing seven runs — four earned — on eight hits.
In the second contest, 757’s Harley Patterson was 3-for-3 with a triple, a double, a run, and two RBIs. Mullins went 2-for-3 with two runs, and Tyler Rood was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Cole Ratcliff took the pitching loss in 5 1/3 innings of work, surrendering six runs — five earned — on six hits.
Chillicothe will be back in action Saturday, competing against Hillsboro 129 at 9 a.m. before battling with Yeager 199 at 4:30 p.m. Both games will be held at Hoffman Field in Chillicothe’s Mary Lou Patton Park.
Portsmouth 23 splits with Yeager 199, Greenville 140
CHILLICOTHE — Also competing in the Jadwin Memorial Tournament was Portsmouth Post 23, who split a doubleheader with Yeager 199 and Greenville 140.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
Portsmouth (4-5) fell to Yeager by a 7-5 count before beating Greenville 140 by an 8-0 final later in the day.
In the loss, Darius Jordan was 2-for-3 with a double, a stolen base and two runs while Seth Nichols went 2-for-4 with a run.
In the win, Dakota Dodds threw a seven-inning shutout, striking out four batters and allowing just five hits. At the dish, Ethan Lauder was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, Bryce Ponn finished 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, and Dodds helped his own cause, going 1-for-2 with a run and an RBI.
Portsmouth 23 gets right back to it Saturday morning, taking on Steubenville 33 at 11:30. They’ll then meet with Toledo 553 at 4:30 p.m. The first game will be played at Hoffman Field while the second takes place at VA Memorial Stadium.