LEGION BASEBALL: Post 757 splits, Waverly 142 falls, Portsmouth 23 wins on first day of Region V Tournament

Derrick Webb, Staff Writer

CHILLICOTHE — Chillicothe Post 757, Waverly Post 142 and Portsmouth Post 23 all started their Ohio Region V Tournament runs Sunday at VA Memorial Stadium … and did so with mixed results.

Here’s a quick breakdown of each of the day’s three contests:

CHILLICOTHE 757 8, HARRISON 199 0

Behind a masterful pitching performance from Trey Carter, Chillicothe 757 started its tournament run on the right foot Sunday morning.

Carter threw all five innings of a rain-shortened contest, surrendering just two hits and whiffing five. The lefty’s gem was accompanied by 12 hits from his offense, supplying the final score.

“Trey throws five pitches and, on most days, he can place them where he wants them,” 757 coach Tom Barr said of Carter. “The thing he does so well is mixes speeds up, even his fastball. He’s really good at disrupting hitters and he did an excellent job of that in our win.”

The Colts scored one in the first, three in the third and four in the fourth to further their lead.

In the first, 757 scored on a fielding error while scoring two more on an RBI single from Harley Patterson, an RBI double from Cole Ratcliff, and an RBI single from Carter in the third. In the fourth, Chad Ison tripled in a run, Patterson and Ratcliff logged RBIs, and Tyler Rood drove in a run with a fielder’s choice to round out the scoring.

Ison led the Colts’ offense, finishing 2-for-4 with two triples, two runs and an RBI, Patterson followed, going 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs, and Ratcliff went 2-for-3 with a double, a run and two RBIs. Ethan Cunningham also helped, going 1-for-1 with two walks and two runs.

CIRCLEVILLE 134 2, WAVERLY 142 0

In a game that pitted last year’s two finalists against each other, errors came back to haunt top-seeded Waverly 142 in a two-run loss.

Through five innings, both teams were scoreless. But in the top of the sixth, the Panthers put a two-spot up, using an error and an RBI fielder’s choice to do so. That’s all 134 needed to get the win as its pitching staff kept the Shockers’ offense at bay.

142 starter Tanner Cunningham took the pitching loss, throwing five innings and surrendering one earned run while striking out five. His offense actually outhit Circleville’s by a 7-2 margin.

The Shockers (16-7) were led at the plate by Parker Clemmons and Scott Lightle, who were both 2-for-3. Kannon Pack, Derek Eblin and Macky McDonald also picked up base hits.

“Tanner threw a great game for us. It’s tough when you outhit a team 7-2 & lose 2-0,” Teeters said. “But in baseball, you have to score runs and play good, solid baseball. Today, we weren’t able to do that.”

Waverly 142 will be back in action against Harrison 199 at 11 a.m., Monday.

PORTSMOUTH 23 9, CHILLICOTHE 757 4

In the Colts’ second game of the day, Portsmouth 23 used a six-run inning en route to a win.

Chillicothe 757 (13-19) wasted no time getting on the board, putting up two runs in the top of the first inning. After Carter and Cunningham posted back-to-back singles, Ison lined into a fielder’s choice and Patterson logged a sacrifice fly, making it 2-0. 

In the second, Portsmouth (11-13) cut the lead in half when Reid Shultz drove in Ethan Lauder. 

Later, trailing 3-1, Portsmouth tied the contest on a wild pitch and an RBI single from Bryce Ponn. The Colts retook the lead at 4-3 in the top of the fourth when Cunningham knocked in Kody Haubeil. In the bottom half of the frame, with the bases loaded, 23’s Nathan McCormick gave Portsmouth its first lead of the game with a two-run single, making it 5-4. 

From there, 23 scored four more times, knocking Ison (757’s starter) off the hill and putting the game out of reach for good.

“We like for guys to work at their own pace and a lot of pitchers like to work really quick. We love for them to do that when they’re hitting spots,” Barr said. “Chad was throwing a lot of pitches, not really hitting spots and still working quickly. Before we knew it, we gave up more than we wanted to. [Portsmouth 23] made a good adjustment. We didn’t, quite frankly.”

Cunningham led 757, going 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, Haubeil was 1-for-3 with a double and a run, Rood was 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI, and Carter was 1-for-3 with a run.

For Portsmouth 23, McCormick finished 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs, Ponn was 2-for-3 with a run and two RBIs, and Lindamood chipped in with a 2-for-3 night alongside two RBIs. 

Chillicothe 757 now plays Hillsboro 129 at 1:45 p.m., Monday. Portsmouth will be back in action against Circleville 134 at 4:30 p.m.

“What it comes down to the most is which team wants it more,” Barr said. “I know that sounds cliche but it’s true. A lot of times, it depends on who shows up and who wants to win more. I like our chances. Our pitching depth is, I believe, the best here. That’s going to pay off.”