Hammond Post 168 Edges Crown Point Post 20 3-2

Post 168 defeated CP Post 20 by a score of 3-2 in the opening game of the American Legion Junior Division Regional Tournament.  Post 168 wasted no time as they scored first in the bottom of the 1 st inning. Jake Lecea drew a leadoff walk and Mark Dye followed with a base hit that bounced over the head of the 3rd baseman.  Number three hitter Steve Traficante then lined the next pitch into deep left-center field for a 2-run double.  Post 168 scored again in the 3rd inning when Traficante reached base with a 1-out single, and Matt Skura followed with a RBI double to right-center field that proved to be the game winner.  That was all the runs Post 168 could come up with. “We had many opportunities to score, we left 9 runners on base (7 in scoring position), but we just couldn't get ‘em in”, quipped Coach Sherman. 

Post 168 sparkled defensively as well. In the 6th inning with 2 outs, Post 20's number four hitter laced a line drive down the right field line.  Post 168's Tim Shanks raced over and made an incredible diving shoe-string catch to end the inning. Austin Wynn went 6 1/3 innings for Post 168 allowing just three hits while striking out 7 Post 20 hitters. “ Austin threw very well, especially through 6 innings.  He constantly had their hitters off balance by mixing his speeds”, noted Sherman . However, the real dramatics took place in the top of the seventh inning. With Post 168 in the lead by a 3-2 margin and one out, Wynn walked 2 consecutive batters to load the bases.  Then in a brilliant managerial move, Sherman called upon Ray Lopez to save the game. So Lopez, taking the mound with the bases loaded and only one out, went to work He got the first batter he faced to hit a fly-ball to shallow center field.  The runner at third stepped back towards third to tag up. Center-fielder Jake Lecea gloved the fly-ball for the second out and the race was on. Lecea then unleashed a perfect strike to catcher Rob Keough who applied the tag for the final out of the game and preserving the win for Post 168.

Post 168 next faces Bristol Post 143 on Friday night at 7:00pm at Teagle Field in Crown Point.