EVANSVILLE — Byron Cox Post 72 traveled over the weekend to Evansville and came home with four wins. Pitching carried the team in all four games including Post 72 tossing a no-hitter in the final game.
FRIDAY GAME
Played at Oakland City University
With the game tied at 2-2 in the sixth inning against Princeton Post 25, Post 72’s Ethan Wooten stole third base and scored on a throwing error all within the same play. Wooten was on base after earning a walk and his run gave the local squad their first and only lead in the game.
Post 72 starting pitcher Talyn Sheldon pitched a complete game. After surrendering two runs in the first inning, Sheldon did not allow another run. The North Montgomery player gave up five hits and walked just three batters in seven innings of work. Two of his walks came in the first inning when Princeton scored.
Crawfordsville had six hits in the game. Peyton Grimmett was 2-for-3 with one RBI.
SATURDAY GAME 1
Played at University of Southern Indiana
In a 3-1 win over traditional Indiana Legion powerhouse Rockport, pitching by both teams proved to be the top story.
For Post 72 Lebanon High School’s Nate Kouns pitched a second consecutive complete game for Crawfordsville coach Kyle Proctor. The lefty gave up just four his and one run while striking out five.
Rockport’s Tyler Schule was equally as impressive by pitching six innings surrendering just four hits. Relief pitcher M. Toler pitched the final inning and sat down Post 72 in order.
Post 72 scored two runs in the first inning. After Aiden Ambriz-Cruz walked, Sam Gooch delivered a triple over the centerfielder’s head scoring Ambriz-Cruz. Grimmett delivered sacrifice ground out which scored Gooch.
Ambriz-Cruz scored again after Gooch reached base due to an error giving Post 72 a 3-0 lead after the top half of the third inning.
Rockport answered with a run after two outs in the bottom of the third frame for their only run of the game.
Rockport never had a runner advance past first base the remainder of the game.
SATURDAY GAME 2
Played at University of Southern Indiana
Saturday’s second game was won in comeback fashion with Post 72 scoring three runs during their last at-bat. Crawfordsville defeated Evansville’s Funkhouser Post 8 by a score of 5-4.
Byron Cox jumped out into the lead by scoring two first-inning runs. A single by leadoff hitter Ambriz-Cruz who advanced to second on a sacrifice fly placed him on second base. He later scored by stealing home.
Gooch scored the second run on a Wooten double to make the score 2-0.
The score remained 2-0 until Funkhouser scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and one in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 4-2 lead.
Two Evansville errors opened the door in the three-run seventh inning for Post 72.
With one out, Kyven Hill reached base on an error and went to second base on a wild pitch.
Ambriz-Cruz singled to centerfield scoring Hill.
Heaton singled next and Grimmett walked placing two runners on base. Gooch singled loading the bases bringing up Wooten with two outs.
Wooten popped the ball up to the second baseman who dropped the ball allowing Heaton and pitch runner Matt Miller to score the go ahead runs.
Post 8 went out in order in the bottom of the seventh.
Post 72 Cayden Scott picked up the win by pitching the last three innings. He surrendered two hits and one run. Wooten started the game and pitched four innings and surrendered three runs.
SUNDAY GAME
Played at historic Bosse Field
Playing in Bosse field, the third oldest baseball stadium in the United States only behind Fenway Park and Wrigley Field, proved to be the perfect spot for Post 72 pitchers who delivered a no-hitter. The local squad defeated Elberfeld Post 351 by a score of 3-0.
Post 72 pitcher Hill pitched 6.2 innings and did not allow a run while striking out six. Keaton Brown entered the game after a tiring Hill walked two batters and pitched five pitches to get the one batter he faced to pop up to second baseman Ambriz-Cruz.
Post 72 had seven hits in the game. Hill was 1-for 3 with one run scored and one RBI. Miller had one hit with two RBI. Kohen Bonebrake and Grimmett each scored one run.
Post 72 had six stolen bases led by Ambriz-Cruz with two.
Byron Cox Post 72 improved their record to 12-2. They will play rival Lafayette Post 11 at 7 p.m. Wednesday at North Montgomery High School.
