Brock Netter, Staff Writer
CHILLICOTHE — After tasting defeat for just the second time this season in the Hillsboro Wood Bat championship, Wednesday was just what Post 757 needed.
CREDIT: Jenny Campbell/SOSA
Riding the arm of Lucas Foglesong, who tossed a complete game, the Colts (9-2) got back on track with a 7-3 victory over McArthur Post 81.
“I felt good just coming off the bump from warming up, plus it was a perfect day to play some baseball,” Foglesong said. “Everything was working really well. Fastball, off-speed and anything else that I tried so it was a solid outing.”
In addition to the complete game, Foglesong allowed seven hits, three earned runs and struck out six batters, including the final batter with the bases loaded and two outs.
“Even coming out from the first inning, I had my rhythm going,” Foglesong said. “It was a 1-2-3 inning that finished in about three minutes and that set the momentum for us as a team for the rest of the game.”
Nick Salyer got the ball rolling on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning after he laced an RBI double into left-center field, scoring Emmitt Cunningham for a 1-0 Colts lead.
Salyer was just getting warmed up, but his teammates got in on the fun in the bottom of the third.
With the score tied 1-1 following Post 81 scoring on a fielder’s choice, Kole Williams broke the tie with an RBI double to left-center for a 2-1 lead. Two batters later, Bryce McWhorter notched a two-run single, extending the lead to 4-1.
The Colts later scored on a failed squeeze bunt after Post 81’s catcher overthrew third base in a rundown situation for a 5-1 lead.
Following an RBI double in the top of the fourth by Post 81, Salyer stepped back up to the dish in the bottom of the fifth and uncorked a two-run blast over the left-center field fence for a 7-2 lead.
“This summer I’ve been taking a lot more harder swings than usual,” Salyer said. “I felt good approaching the plate and I was swinging for the fences. I saw a fastball coming right at me and all that went through my mind was ‘Smoke it’.”
Salyer finished the day 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs to lead the Colts while McWhorter added two RBIs and Williams had an RBI.
“I was mainly focusing on keeping my weight back during my at-bats,” Salyer said. “When I get myself in trouble, I’m usually out in front of the ball. We faced a slower pitcher so I just stayed patient and waited for a good pitch to swing at.”
The Colts return to action on Saturday in the Ninth Annual Jim Jadwin Tournament and face off against Greenville at 2 p.m. before playing against Portsmouth Post 23 at 7.
Both games will be played at VA Memorial Stadium.
Although the Colts have never won the Jadwin tournament before, Salyer believes this could be the year as long as they remain focused.
“It was great to get a win and gain some more momentum heading into the tournament,” Salyer said. “I feel like if we continue to focus and don’t jack around, we have a good chance at winning it.”
WAVERLY 142 2, PORTSMOUTH 23 0
Both Waverly 142 and Portsmouth 23 were also in action on Tuesday as the Shockers earned a 2-0 win.
Waverly’s Lane Mettler earned the win on the bump, tossing six innings, allowing just four hits and whiffing eight batters. Roger Woodruff threw the seventh inning and closed the door.
“Lane was very tough on the mound,” 142 coach Jonathan Teeters said. “Solid performance and outing for him. Woody came in and threw strikes and was able to close it off.”
At the plate, Easton Lansing led Waverly (6-3) by going 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs. Mettler and Kannon Pack scored the team’s two runs.
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