TROY – Greenville American Legion Post 140 defeated Troy Post 43 7-1 in the opening round of Region 2, District 3 American Legion tournament action Thursday at Troy’s Duke Park, while Piqua Post 184 forfeited its game to Sidney Post 217.
Troy threatened in the top of the second, putting runners on second and third with no outs, but three straight strikeouts from Greenville starting pitcher Nathan Waggoner ended the threat.
“We came out and weren’t hitting the ball that well,” said Post 140 coach Chad Henry. “We put the bat on the ball, but it wasn’t falling for us, but the third inning, we came out and kept on putting the bat on the ball, and things started falling our way.”
Troy plated a run in the top of the third to lead 1-0, with Post 140 coming to the plate in the bottom of the inning.
Greenville would put the game away in the bottom of the third plating five runs and take advantage of Troy’s defensive struggles in the field to win the game 7-1 with just two of the seven runs earned.
“We put a little bit of pressure on them, and we were able to get ahead,” Henry stated. “We were hitting ahead in the count, and when you get pitches like that, it gives you an opportunity to score.”
Waggoner earned the win for Greenville, tossing five solid innings, and Braeden Wills pitched two innings of shutout ball in relief to earn the save.
“He was battling a little bit, and he got behind a little bit, but credit Waggs, he battled,” said Coach Henry. “He kept his walks down. Sometimes he gets in those 3-1 counts, but he’ll come back and throw a spinner on 3-1 and keep guys off balance. When you can locate two different pitches for strikes, you’re dangerous no matter what the count is.”
Greenville Post 140 takes on Sidney at Duke Park on Friday with a 6 p.m. start time.
