Cody Leist

PDT Sports Writer

For the second day in a row, Portsmouth Post 23 was outhit in the opener of a home doubleheader.

Despite the 11-8 disadvantage, Post 23 used a four-run fourth inning to double up Waverly Post 124 8-4 Tuesday in the first of two District 7 games at Branch Rickey Park. The finale was not completed at press time.

The Shockers threatened in their half of the first by putting two runners on base. But Portsmouth starter Brady Knittel was able to get Adam Tiu to ground into a double play and Tyler Nartker to ground out to end the threat.

Post 23 used small ball in its half of the first two take the first lead of the game. Brady Johnson’s sacrifice fly to score Matt Penix and Alex Shears’ tally on a wild pitch gave the hosts a 2-0 advantage.

A Tyler Shortridge RBI single to score courtesy runner Aaron Abrams cut the lead in half in the second. Post 142 took its only lead of the contest in the fourth thanks to consecutive RBI singles by Pierce Knisley and Tiu.

But in the bottom half of the frame, Portsmouth reclaimed the lead for good. Austin Howard scored on a wild pitch and Philip Cassidy knocked in Zach Brown and Wesley Book with a two-run double. The scoring party was capped off with a Daulton Kenyon single to score Cassidy.

Despite a Levi Jenkins tally in the fifth off a Post 23 error, the Shockers returned the favor with their only fielding mistake of the contest and allowed Shears and Johnson to score and complete the scoring.

Knittel went six innings for his first win of the season as he allowed all four runs, eight hits, recorded three strikeouts and allowed five walks. Tiu was charged with all eight runs as well as all eight hits with two punch outs, two free passes and a hit batsman for his first loss in two decisions.

Portsmouth travels Wednesday to Ashland (Ky.) Post 76 for a doubleheader, the last before Friday’s Jim Jadwin Memorial Tournament.

Cody Leist can be reached at 353-3101, ext. 294, or cleist@civitasmedia.com. For breaking sports news, follow Cody on Twitter @CodyLeist.

Waverly 142 010 210 0 — 4 11 1

Portsmouth 23 200 420 x — 8 8 1

Waverly 142 — Dixon 1-3 (2 BB, R), Knisley 2-4 (RBI), Tiu 2-4 (RBI), Parks 0-3 (BB), L. Jenkins 1-2 (2 BB, R), Johnson 1-4, Jordan 3-4 (SB, R), Shortridge 1-4 (RBI).

Post 23 — Kenyon 1-4 (RBI), Penix 1-4 (R), Shears 0-1 (2 BB, 2 R), Johnson 0-1 (HBP, SAC, RBI, R), Howard 1-2 (SAC, R), Brown 2-3 (R), Book 1-3 (R), Poage 1-3, Cassidy 1-3 (2B, 2 RBI, R).

W — Knittel (1-2)

L — Tiu (1-1)

Records — Post 142 12-4 (6-2); Post 23 5-9 (1-1).