The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Sherrill Post tops Utica Post to keep season alive
Big fourth inning key in must-win game
UTICA » Sherrill Post had less than 24 hours to shake off a tough loss to Smith Post in the American Legion Baseball District 5 playoffs, returning to the field Wednesday to face Utica Post in an elimination game at Murnane Field.
The top seed bounced back, thanks in part to a pair of little hits that proved to be huge.
Zach Nell and Blake VanDreason led off the bottom of the fourth inning with consecutive infield singles that didn’t reach the pitcher’s mound, opening the door for a fourrun frame that proved to be the difference in Sherrill Post’s 6-2 victory.
“I tell them, you gotta accept your role and you gotta be able to execute when your number’s called and they did that and it was great execution,” said Sherrill Post coach John Roden. “It helped. It put some more runs, it gave us a little comfort level there.”
Connor VanDreason pitched four and two-thirds strong innings to earn the win on the mound, allowing two hits and no runs while walking one and striking out two. Ryan Palmer pitched two innings of relief to earn the save, striking out three and allowing two hits.
“We’re lucky that, unlike sectionals, it’s double-elimination,” said Connor VanDreason. “We just gotta come back and hopefully we can live to see another day.”
Ben Killian took the loss for Utica Post, which was elim-
inated from the tournament. He lasted only onethird of an inning, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk. Josh Raymer pitched six and two-thirds innings of relief, allowing four runs on four hits with five strikeouts and a walk.
Connor VanDreason was in a groove early, retiring the side in order in the top of the first. His team quickly spotted him two runs in the home half of the frame. Nate Palmer led off with a single and, with Tyler Rotach batting, stole second and third. Rotach walked and Davey Moffett followed with an infield single to score Palmer with the game’s first run. Andrew Roden then singled to load the bases and Blake VanDreason added an RBI single two batters later, extending the lead to 2-0 and ending Killian’s day on the mound. Raymer came in and escaped the bases-loaded jam, getting a double-play ground ball to keep it a two-run game. “It was big,” Connor VanDreason said of working with the early lead. “When you get to go back out on the mound in the second inning and you already know you have the lead, you just pitch withmore confidence. Everyone behind me is supporting me so it’s just beautiful when they can give me a couple runs.”
His only real trouble came in the top of the fourth when Utica Post put runners on the corners but he got out of the inning with a fly out to Nate Palmer in center field.
Sherrill Post extended its lead in the bottom of the inning. Nell hit a little dribbler that he beat out for an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error. Blake VanDreason then put down a bunt and reached safely when Raymer looked to third but didn’t make a throw. Dylan Shlotzhauer plated Nell with an RBI single and TJ Horodnick followed with a walk. Jacob Horodnick put down a perfect drag bunt to advance the runners to second and third with one out. Raymer struck Nate Palmer out for the second out of the inning but a wild pitch to Rotach brought VanDreason home and the catcher lined an RBI single that scored TJ Horodnick and extended the lead to 6-0 before Raymer got out of the inning.
Nate Palmer showcased his defensive ability in center field in the top fifth inning, jumping to rob Brent Jones of an extra base hit to lead off the frame. After Connor VanDreason hit Nick Abraham, Mike Cough hit a fly ball to the gap in right- center field that Palmer tracked down for the second out. VanDreason then left the game for reliever AJ Farina, who gave up a deep fly ball to Josh Raymer. Palmer again made the running catch, this time in left-center, to end the inning.
Farina, however, wouldn’t fare as well in the top of the sixth. He hit Killian to lead off the frame before allowing a single to Brian Wojnas. Ryan Palmer took the mound in relief and retired the next two batters before allowing a two-out, two run single to Nick LaBella that made the score 6-2.
Utica Post put two runners on against Palmer in the top of the seventh but he shut the door with a strikeout, extending Sherrill Post’s season for at least another day.
“We got another day of baseball now, so we’re looking forward to it,” said John Roden.
Sherrill Post will face the winner of Wednesday’s game between Love Post and Adrean Post on Thursday at Murnane Field in a game scheduled for 5:30 p.m.