Legion season kicks off, Post 95 starts 5-3 with big wins
Slowly, but surely, the Senior Legion team is coming together this summer.
Eight games into the season, the Post 95 squad has a record of 5-3, with most of its wins coming with depleted squad.
Patoka High School’s deep run into postseason play delayed the arrival of Luke Murfin and Zach Thompson, who will both be key additions on the mound and at the plate. Add in that a couple of the big bats from Vandalia’s high school team aren’t playing this summer, and the Senior Legion outlook started to look bleak.
But just when things started to look rough – losing by 11 to Salem and splitting a doubleheader at Robinson on Sunday – reinforcements arrived on Monday in Kyle Hawkins and Jared Winters.
Hawkins made his debute in game two of the Salem doubleheader on Saturday, just minutes after he decided he would play this summer. Although he gave up seven runs, he was able to pick up the 8-7 victory.
"I think I’m actually throwing better now than I did in school," Hawkins said.
His second outing was even better, as he picked up a 1-0 win over Teutopolis on Monday night. Hawkins scattered six hits and struck out six, including the final batter in the game, with the tying run on third base.
"That last pitch, fastball strike out, that was a nice feeling," Hawkins said. "It was just an awesome feeling being up 1-0, and all I had to do was get three outs. I don’t think I’ve ever had a chance to do that against T-Town."
The defense behind the recent VCHS graduate was superb, turning two double plays and not committing any errors.
"Everybody on defense did good all around," Hawkins said.
Vandalia’s lone run came in the top of the sixth. Troy Kimbro led off the frame with a walk and moved up to second on a passed ball. With one out, Cody Wimberly doubled down the left-field line to score the go-ahead run, and that was all Hawkins and the defense would need.
"Hawkins is a great addition to have out here. I’m tickled to death to have him," Coach Steve Hosick said. "He adds a lot to this ballclub."
Winters was on the hill in game one of the doubleheader, and while he may not have earned the win, his pitching was good enough to. The Brownstown High School grad allowed four runs, two earned, in six innings of work. He struck out five.
"Winters threw a good ballgame. He didn’t deserve the score that we ended up with, but that’s the way the game went," Hosick said.
T-Town went up 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning and scored three more in the second. After that ,Winters was lights out, allowing only three hits and two walks over the final four frames.
"I felt pretty good," Winters said. "This is the best I’ve felt in a while. The curve ball was working pretty well. I probably should have used it a little more."
Vandalia’s run came in the top of the sixth, with two outs Cerutti homered to centerfield.
Robinson doubleheader
Post 95 traveled to Robinson on Sunday and ended up splitting games. Vandalia lost game one, 10-2, after getting only four hits. Kimbro went 2-for-3 and Thompson went 1-for-3 with two runs batted in.
Determined to win game two, Hosick put Murfin on the hill and he delivered a gem, allowing just one hit in seven innings. Murfin struck out 10 and walked six.
Vandalia scored four runs in the top of the first as it sent nine batters to the plate. Another run in the third inning and two more in the fifth backed up Murfin’s performance and Post 95 won 7-1.
"Murfin threw a heck of a ball game. That was a big split for us," Hosick said.
Salem doubleheader
Vandalia hosted Salem on Saturday for a pair of games. After dropping game one 17-6, Post 95 was able to bounce back and get the win in game two, 8-7, with Hawkins getting the win.
Seven different players had a hit in the game and Colby Cooper and Kimbro each drove in two runs.
Carlyle
Vandalia beat Carlyle twice last week, to start the season 2-0.
