Portsmouth Post 23 spent the weekend on the baseball diamond, competing in six games over a four-day span, beginning Thursday and finalizing Sunday, July 10, 2016.
In the July heat, Portsmouth Post 23 finished the six game marathon with a 1-5 record. The six-game spread brings Post 23’s overall record to 7-18.
Thursday, July 7
Post 23 faced off against Circleville Post 134 to start the marathon of games for the newly revived Portsmouth Post 23 American Legion baseball team.
Post 134 defeated Post 23 6-1, which saw Post 23 have a bad inning, causing them to play from behind and attempt to rally to a win.
“One bad inning got us playing from behind and when you play a strong team you just keep trying to find a way we just came up short today (Thursday),” Post 23 coach Matt Miller said.
Brandon Denney got the start for Portsmouth, completing five innings of work. He gave up four earned runs off seven hits and walked one batter while striking one out.
“Brandon started off a little rough in the zone, but kept competing and found a way to throw 5 strong innings,” Miller said.
Drew Cassidy came in to relieve Denney, pitching one complete inning. He walked one batter while not allowing any earned runs to score.
Post 23 had five hits during the game, two of which came from Nick Marvin. Marvin had a 2-for-3 plate appearance in the game.
Friday, July 8
Game 1
For the rest of the weekend, Post 23 played in the Summer Bash at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, Ohio. Their first opponent in the bash came to be fellow Region V competitors, the Waverly Post 142 Shockers.
“I felt like we played well and had a chance to win,” Miller said. “The boys competed very hard, but the breaks didn’t go our way.”
Drew Lowe pitched six innings in the loss to the Shockers, allowing six hits and issuing four walks. Lowe also struck out four batters.
Cody Wiltshire made a relief appearance in the game, totaling one inning, which saw Wiltshire give up one hit and issue one walk. He also had one strikeout.
Wiltshire led the team with two hits in the loss, going 2-for-4 at the plate.
Game 2
Post 23 suffered a second loss Friday after playing Hillsboro Post 129. Hillsboro took a 13-1 victory over Portsmouth.
“Didn’t show up to play this game,” Miller said. “I think we were down because we felt we let one slip away the previous game.”
Bradley Gee pitched three innings of work in the loss. He allowed five earned runs off two hits while walking five batters and getting one strikeout.
Wiltshire also pitched in the game, going through two innings of work. He allowed four earned runs off three hits. Wiltshire walked three batters and hit two with a pitch. He also struck out two.
Saturday, July 9
Post 23 went head-to-head with Chillicothe Post 757 Saturday, losing to Post 757, 17-4.
“We had a lot of tired arms tonight coming in and these young men came in and threw for us to help us out tonight,” Miller said. “We competed well, just didn’t have the energy to keep it close. “
Cody Finley, Kyle Jenkins and Trevor Coriell all were sent to the mound for Post 23.
Finley worked for three innings, allowing three earned runs off three hits. He also walked six batters.
Jenkins added a pair of innings for Post 23. He allowed five earned runs off seven hits, which also saw him walk one batter.
Coriell finished with one inning of work for Post 23, allowing seven earned runs from seven hits. He walked three batters and sent one back to the dugout via a strikeout.
Sunday, July 10
Game 1
Post 23 got some revenge Saturday, as they shut-out Chillicothe Post 757, 3-0.
Drew Cassidy got the complete game shutout victory for Post 23, as the young hurler went all seven innings allowing only six hits. Cassidy walked three batters and struck out three in the win.
“Drew threw an outstanding game today,” Miller said. “He pounded the strike zone, changed speeds and controlled the game.”
Miller said all aspects of the game were played well in the rematch against Post 757.
“Defensively we played one of our best games and we had timely hitting in key situations,” Miller said. It was a complete team effort.”
Game 2
Post 23 had another shot at avenging an earlier loss in the Summer Bash, but came up one run shy again, as the Waverly Post 142 Shockers defeated Post 23 4-3.
Bradley Gee started for Post 23, going through six innings of work on the mound. He allowed four earned runs off eight hits, while walking one batter and striking out three.
“Bradley threw the ball very well and controlled the game most of the day,” Millers said. “There were a couple breaks that didn’t go our way late that cost us in the end, but I’m very proud of the way the boys competed all day.”
Post 23 had a collective seven hits in the one-run loss to Post 142.
Trevor Coriell led the team with a 2-for-3 night at the plate.
Post 23 returns to Branch Rickey Park Tuesday evening as they host fellow Region V competitors, the Waverly Post 142 Shockers in a home league game. First pitch for Post 23 and Post 142 is set for 6:00 p.m.
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