After scoring three runs across the first two innings Tuesday in Syracuse, the Fort Calhoun Senior Legion baseball team went scoreless for five straight.
Finally, during the top of the eighth frame, patience helped the Zig Drywall Pioneers to a 6-5 victory. With the score even at 3-3, Chase Premer, Jordan Back and Kenny Wellwood earned bases-loaded walks for the win. Justin Myer, Harrison Schmitt and Zach Faucher also earned free bases during the final inning.
The win pushed Fort Calhoun's season record to 6-10. It was scheduled to play Wednesday and next competes Monday against Omaha Central.
The Fort Calhoun Juniors — who lost Tuesday's game in Syracuse, 7-6 — will next play during the Class B Area 2 Tournament at Plattsmouth, however. It is tentatively slated to begin today with the Post 348 Pioneers taking on the tourney hosts.
Post 348 loses 2 in Plattsmouth
The Zig Drywall Pioneers lost both of their American Legion baseball games in Plattsmouth on June 30.
The Post 348 Seniors led 5-1 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, but lost 6-5 when the home team took advantage of defensive miscues and earned the walk-off victory.
Before it fell apart, Fort Calhoun took control of the road game with a 3-0 first inning. All three runs were scored after the first two batters grounded out.
First, Sam Genoways reached base on a two-out error. Myer singled and Sam Halford registered an RBI single.
Avery Quinlan stepped into the batter's box next for the Pioneers, plating a run when he hit into the second Plattsmouth error of the top half of the first inning. Schmitt then unleashed an RBI single, pushing Post 348 out ahead by three runs.
Coach Brandon Wynn's ballclub's lead grew to four, but it was enough in the end when the opportunistic home squad stole the game in the fifth.
The Fort Calhoun Juniors, meanwhile, lost 6-3 in Plattsmouth. They never led, but tallied three runs during the top of the sixth inning to give themselves a chance. Alex Christensen, Declyn Otte and Jackson Conrad all scored on pitches that got by the home team's catcher.
