For the second consecutive day, the Mitchell Post 18 Legion baseball team scored runs in bunches.
Scoring five runs in the third inning and nine more runs in the fifth inning, Post 18 cruised to a 15-2, shortened seven-inning win over Huron Post 7 on Wednesday at Cadwell Park.
"The key is how hard the kids have worked to get on base and then taking pride in driving in those runs," said Post 18 assistant coach Kent VanOverschelde, who filled in for coach Luke Norden in the postgame interview. "We swung the bat with confidence and I was pleased with the performance of our guys offensively. They were up there to hit the ball and score some runs."
Spencer Neugebauer had a 3-for-4 game with three runs scored and three stolen bases. Carson Max drove in four runs and scored two runs, powered by two hits, including an RBI triple. Briggs Havlik, Carter Max and Sam Michels each scored two runs. Carter Max also had two hits.
Second baseman Elijah Pommer, who pounded two doubles over the left fielder's head in the win and drove in two runs, said the team has taken advantage of pitches in the strike zone.
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"We're getting good pitches and we're not missing right now," he said. "We know we need to be aggressive in the zone and I think the whole team has taken that to heart."
Pommer, who was the No. 9 hitter in the lineup, said the players at the bottom of the order are getting fastballs and benefitting from the production at the top of the lineup.
"Our guys at the top are doing a great job and that's helping everyone get the hitting going," he said.
On the mound, Calvin Hegg pitched a complete game, throwing seven innings, allowing five hits, two runs (one earned) and striking out one. The effort came on the heels of the combined pitching effort of Jared Miller, Koby Larson and Drew Kitchens in Tuesday's 12-8 win over Yankton.
"Credit Calvin for coming in and pounding that strike zone," VanOverschelde said. "The guys that have thrown the last two nights are young guys and have had a great opportunity to improve and show what they can do. Obviously, their confidence on the mound and their ability has shown through and the defense has played well behind them."
Huron was held to five hits and left 11 men on base, while committing two errors. Mitchell had 12 hits, 10 men left on base and three errors.
Mitchell (19-14) will play five games this weekend in Eden Prairie, Minnesota as part of the Gopher Classic Tournament, starting by playing Sartell (Minn.) and Eden Prairie at 5 and 7:30 p.m. Friday. The regular season concludes next week with back-to-back home games against Sioux Falls West and Harrisburg on July 14 and 15.
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