One week ago, the Tyrone Legion jumped out ahead of Martin Oil 8-3, but were unable to hold the lead and lost a heartbreaker 9-8. This Monday, the Legion held a 5-0 lead over Corporal Miller and let it slip away again, but this time Tyrone got the offense restarted and won 9-7.
The Tyrone Legion jumped ahead in the top of the first inning when they used some two out lightning to put a run across the plate. Justin Schopp worked a walk, and Derrick Soellner executed a perfect hit and run which allowed Schopp to score from first on a second. Unfortunately for Tyrone, Soellner did a little too much running and was thrown out attempting to take second on the throw.
A leadoff walk to Tyler Gillmen got things started for the Legion in the second inning. With one out, Jesse Hertzler singled to move Gillmen to third, but Corporal Miller starting pitcher Nate George struck out Donnie Conrad to come within an out of escaping the jam. Hertzler stole second base to put two runners in scoring position for Matt Morrissey who had been struggling to get base hits early in the season.
Many of Morrissey\’s balls put into play have been hard hit, but good plays have kept his batting average low. This day, a hit finally fell in front of a diving Drew Gehl to give the Tyrone Legion a 3-0 lead.
“Matt didn\’t get a lot of at bats in high school or Federation over the past few years, but he\’s been putting the ball in play all year for us while leading the team in walks. That hit right there is up there with the biggest hits of the season for this team,” Tyrone Legion Manager Mike Boytim said.
The Tyrone Legion got two more runs in the top of the third inning when starting pitcher Tyler Golden singled in front of a Schopp walk. Soellner grounded into a fielder\’s choice that erased Golden, but Gillmen and Tyler Hoover followed with consecutive RBI singles.
Things fell apart for Golden on the mound in the bottom of the third. Corey Henderson led off with a triple and scored on a Andrew Criste single. Golden then walked Casey Wombacher, and Alex Sisto reached on an error to score one run and put runners are first and second. Gehl bunted the runners into scoring position before Golden walked the next two batters.
Gillmen relieved Golden and retired Buddy Durbin on a sacrifice fly, but the tying run came home when the throw went out of play. With the go ahead run on third, Gillmen got Jeremy Vogel to ground out.
Corporal Miller held off Tyrone\’s offense in the top of the fourth inning and then took the lead in their half.
With one out, Criste hit the third of his four singles on the day and went to third when the next two batters walked. Gehl struck out, but George hit a double that scored Criste and Wombacher to give Corporal Miller a 7-5 lead.
However, the lead would be short-lived. Schopp led off the top of the fifth with a single, went to second when Soellner reached on an error, and to third when Gillmen walked. Hoover brought home Schopp with a single that marked the end of the line for George on the mound.
Corporal Miller ace Andrew Criste relieved George, but struggled to find the strike zone while walking Hertzler to bring in the tying run. Conrad hit a sacrifice fly to right that gave the Tyrone Legion a lead, and Morrissey came through with another big hit to score Hoover and give Tyrone a 9-7 lead they would not relinquish.
Corporal Miller loaded the bases with one out in sixth inning, but did not score as Gillmen struck out Matt Gaeto and got Durbin to ground out.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Corporal again threatened to tie the game when a Wombacher ground out put runners at second and third with two outs, but Gillmen struck out Sisto to preserve the victory for the Tyrone Legion.
“Tyler Gillmen was amazing in relief today. He made one bad pitch on an 0-2 count, but the big thing was that he didn\’t let it bother him, pitched with confidence, and got us the win,” Boytim said.
The Tyrone Legion\’s next action will come Thursday when they travel to Bellwood to take on Martin Oil. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Legion Notes: Gillmen improved to 3-2 on the season, with two of the wins coming out of the bullpen…. Morrissey had two hits, two walks and drove in three runs from the ninth spot in the batting order….The Tyrone Legion and their fans were able to obtain the victory and enjoy it despite being hit by numerous stray tennis balls flying over the fence which separates the Mansion Park tennis courts from the baseball field.
Tyrone Legion 9 Corporal Miller 7
TYRONE LEGION – Levinson, ss, 4-0-1; Golden, p-lf, 4-0-1; Schopp, cf, 2-3-2; Soellner, c, 4-2-1; Gillmen, lf-p, 1-2-1; Hoover, 1b, 4-1-2; Hertzler, 3b, 3-1-1; Conrad, rf, 3-0-0; Morrissey, 2b, 2-0-2. TOTALS 27-9-11.
CORPORAL MILLER – Vogel, cf, 5-0-1; Henderson, ss, 3-1-1; Fredrick, p, 1-0-0; Criste, 2b-p-ss, 5-2-4; Wombacher, c, 3-2-1; Sisto, 1b, 3-1-0; Gehl, rf, 3-0-1; George, p, 1-1-1; Potts, 2b, 1-0-1; P. Gaeto, 3b, 2-0-0; M. Gaeto, ph, 1-0-0; Snyder, lf, 0-0-0; Durbin, dh, 3-0-1. TOTALS 31-7-11.
Tyrone Legion 122 040 0 9-11-2
Corporal Miller 005 200 0 7-11-2
3B: Henderson 1.
2B: George 1, Morrissey 1.
RBI: Morrissey 3, Hoover 2, Conrad 1, Hertzler 1, Gillmen 1, Soellner 1, George 2, P. Gaeto 1, Durbin 1, Criste 1.
SO: Gillmen 5, George 4, Fredrick 2, Golden 1.
BB: George 5, Golden 4, Gillmen 4, Criste 3, Fredrick 1.
WP: Gillmen LP: George
