LEGION: Trailing 6-0 Post 83 surges back at state to win in 11 innings

ATHENS

Trailing 6-0 after two innings Tuesday against St. Louisville in the State American Legion Tournament, Post 83 coach Ray Neill sat in the dugout and quietly wondered if his team's luck had finally run out.

Last year, the Sandusky Legion team won all five of its games en route to a state title. This year has been more of the same, with Post 83 yet to surrender a loss in three games.

It seemed as if the baseball gods had enough.

"I thought after those first two innings ... my thoughts were, we had won five straight games in last year's state tournament," Neill said. "I thought maybe the baseball percentages were going to catch up to us."

The percentages, however, again worked out in Post 83's favor in a 10-9, 11-inning victory.

Post 83 quickly shifted the momentum in the third inning -- an inning Neill said changed the complexion of the game as Post 83 cut its deficit to one run.

Andrew Enderle (Norwalk) was hit by a pitch to lead off the third inning and was bunted to second by Joe Consolo (Bellevue). Matt Gundlach (Perkins) followed and singled to right, placing runners at first and third with one out.

Michael Shepherd (Perkins) gave Post 83 needed momentum -- a theme of the day for the Perkins grad -- by singling and driving in Enderle, making the score 6-1. After Xavier Turner (Perkins) walked to load the bases, Cody Koch (Perkins) doubled, driving in two more runs.

Spencer Bryant (Perkins) and starting pitcher Matt Hammons (Willard) followed Koch with doubles of their own, cutting Post 83's deficit to 6-5 after the top of the third.

"Offensively, it was a game that we got down 6-0 and we needed something to happen," Neill said. "You need the offense to step up and get you in to the game. The five-run third did that.

"From then on, we gave ourselves a chance."

Post 83 eventually tied the game in the top of the seventh, but quickly surrendered it back to St. Louisville in the bottom half of the inning.

Hammons, faced with a runner on third base and two outs, was relieved by Spencer Bryant (Perkins). Hammons allowed seven runs on nine hits and struck out six batters in 6 2/3 innings.

Bryant gave up a base hit to his first batter, allowing a run to score. St. Louisville notched another before the inning was up, and Post 83 trailed 8-6.

Post 83 scored one run in the eighth and faced a one-run deficit going in to the ninth. That's when Shepherd swung the momentum with another swing of his bat.

With one out and the bases empty, Shepherd saw a pitch he liked and sent it sailing over the fence in left-center, tying the game at 8.

"Shepherd's home run was a no-doubter," Neill said. "He hit the ball well over the 375 sign in left field."

Turner followed with a walk, and Koch was hit by a pitch. Bryant hit a long flyout to center field. Turner tagged on the play and, because of a bad throw by the center fielder, circled all the way around to score, giving Post 83 a 9-8 lead.

That lead went in to the bottom of the ninth, when St. Louisville was able to get a run off of reliever Michael Hamann (Danbury).

As the game went in to extra innings, Neill struggled with the choice to leave in Hamann or rest him for another pitcher.

"He pitched on Monday," Neill said. "We brought him in thinking just one inning. We sent him back out for two. After two we were actually gonna bring him out."

Lucky for Neill he didn't.

In the 11th, Shepherd -- who finished the game batting 3-for-4 with three runs scored, a home run, double and 3 RBIs -- walked. Two batters later he crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

Leading 10-9, Hamann controlled the bottom of the 11th, striking out the side for the win.

"It was an outstanding team win," Neill said. "We threw three pitchers out there, and one through nine in the lineup all gave us a little something."

Post 83 moves on to play Alliance at 7:30 p.m. today. The game is being played at the Athens High School field.

The winner of tonight's game moves on to the final four of the winners bracket and earns a huge advantage over the rest of the field. A Post 83 win would give the team the day off Thursday as well as a one-game cushion, having to be beaten twice to lose the state title.