Sherrill Post vs. HelmuthIngalls

VanDreason, Nell combine for two-hitter

ROME, N.Y. » Blake VanDreason was not expecting to start Tuesday’s New York State American Legion District 5 contest against Helmuth-Ingalls Post 232.

Ryan Chevier was pencilled in for the road start in Rome but was unable to go for Post 230, so VanDreason took the hill.

Following Tuesday’s game, VanDreason might ask for more surprise starts.

The Post 230 hurler flirted with a no-hitter, yielding onehit across six innings, striking out 10 batters and issuing one walk in an impressive performance to lead Sherrill to a 5-0 shutout.

“My dad (coach Barry VanDreason) just today right before the game started, he asked, ‘So, you’re good to go?’” VanDreason said, grinning. “I was just trying to throw strikes and help my team win. We’re just trying to make playoffs.”

VanDreason and Zach Nell, who entered in relief in the seventh after Tanner Deveans broke up the no-hit bid with a double, combined for a twohitter in the win.

Lukas Albro posted a 2-for-4 performance at the plate, including a double and an RBI. Alex Kippwent 3-for-4 with an RBI, and Ryan Chevier doubled home a pair of runs to help Post 230 to the win.

Thomas Labayewski took the loss for Helmuth-Ingalls,

allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Josh Wagner yielded one earned on four hits in three innings of relief, striking out three.

Af ter ret ir ing the Helmuth-Ingalls’ side in the first inning of play, VanDreason struck out the side in the bottom of the second. Helmuth-Ingalls’ put a runner on via an error in the third, but Post 230 quickly erased the runner with a double play to keep the hosts off the scoreboard.

Labayewski kept pace with VanDreason through the first three frames, but Post 230 broke through in the top of the fourth.

VanDreason and Alex Kipp led off the frame with back-to-back singles before Ryan Chevier ripped a single to score the pair. Jorden Barlow kept the party going with another single to move Chevier over to third. Logan McClelland followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Chevier, and two batters later, Lukas Albro crushed an RBI double to send Barlow home for a 4- 0 Sherrill lead.

Post 230 tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Zach Nell worked a walk to lead off the inning, stole second base, and scored on an RBI single by Alex Kipp.

After Deveans’ sixth inning double broke up VanDreason’s bid for a no-hitter, Sherrill brought Zach Nell in for relief in the bottom of the seventh. Nell struck out the first and last batter of the inning to wrap up the contest.

JOHN BREWER - ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH Sherrill Post 230starter Blake VanDreason deals toward the plate during a 5-0Sherrill Post 230shutout over Helmuth-Ingalls.

JOHN BREWER - ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH Sherrill Post 230’s Ryan Chevier swings at an offering during a 5-0win over Helmuth-Ingalls.

JOHN BREWER - ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH Post 230reliever Zach Nell pitched a scoreless inning of relief against Helmuth-Ingalls to preserve a 5-0Sherrill shutout.

JOHN BREWER - ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH Jorden Barlow flares a pitch the other way to left field for a base hit during Sherrill Post 230’s win against HelmuthIngalls.