Vandalia Sr. Legion team splits season opener vs. Carlyle

By Editor | June 8, 2011 |

There is something about teams that Luke Hohlt coaches that gets players motivated to score runs in the seventh inning. Many times during the high school season, the Vandalia Vandals would score in the late innings, and Vandalia’s Sr. Legion team did the same during its first game of the season, a 9-7 loss to Carlyle last Wednesday. Post 95 trailed 9-5 entering the bottom of the seventh, but the first five batters reached base, Caleb Randle scored on a passed ball and Dathan Berning got an RBI by driving home Ian Murrell on a fielder’s choice. ‘We were right there,’ Hohlt said. ‘In the seventh, we had the tying run at the plate. ‘Obviously, we wanted to win the ballgame, but we’ll take that for game one.’ The strong finish was similar to the game’s start. After inducing a groundball to leave three Carlyle runners on base in the top of the first, Vandalia’s first two batters of the game – Berning and Cy Perfetti – both reached base and scored. Berning came across the plate on a fielder’s choice by Brady Huber, and Perfetti scored after an error on a grounder hit by Dylan Bone. ‘I think our bats are going to roll,’ Hohlt said. ‘We have really, really tough hitters up and down the lineup. ‘It’s just a matter of them getting used to each other and our style of ball.’ Post 95 had eight hits in the game, and 15 more runners reached base either by a walk, hit by pitch or fielder’s choice. Both teams scored once in the third inning. Vandalia had been threatening to score more, but it left the bases loaded after three players reached with two outs. No damage was done by either side in the fourth, but Carlyle broke open the game in the top of the fifth, scoring eight runs and chasing Post 95 starter Kyle Hawkins from the game. Five hits allowed, two walks and two errors contributed to the big inning. ‘We had a few flubs behind (Hawkins), and that was the difference in the ballgame,’ Hohlt said. ‘We didn’t make a few plays defensively and missed some pitches,’ he said. ‘They hit our mistakes hard.’ In the inning, Carlyle had two-run double and a two-run home run. Post 95 got two runs back in the bottom of the frame after Randle hit a sharp line drive to center field for a pair of RBI. Vandalia would leave runners on first and third. In the second game against Carlyle, Post 95 won, 9-8. Bone started, and Randle picked up the win in relief. On Saturday, Vandalia nearly erased an eight-run deficit against Murphysboro. Trailing 9-1 after the top of the fifth, Post 95 strung together several hits and walks, with all nine hitters batting at least once. That resulted in seven runs, and Post 95 took an 11-9 lead one inning later. A botched pickoff, however, would allow Murphysboro to get back on the board and take a 12-11 lead after the top of the seventh. Berning advanced to third after singling in the bottom of the inning, but a diving catch in deep right-center field by Murphysboro’s right fielder ended the game. With players from several different schools joining together on Post 95, it’s natural to need some time to adjust to a new playing style. But having played seven games last week, Hohlt said it would not take long to get the team on track. ‘In one week, we’ll be good to go,’ he said. ‘By Sunday, we should be gelling.’ Post 95’s schedule is lighter this week, with a doubleheader at Effingham on Thursday at 6 p.m., a nine-inning game against Granite City next Tuesday at 7 p.m. and a doubleheader at Salem next Wednesday at 6 p.m. Vandalia was 3-4 through Sunday.

Vandalia Sr. Legion second baseman Cy Perfetti throws to first to record an out during the first game of the season-opening doubleheader against Carlyle last Wednesday. Post 95 would split the two games, dropping the first but winning the second.

Post 95’s Dylan Carr slides safely into home plate during the fifth inning of the first game against Murphysboro on Saturday. Vandalia would win the second game, and stands at 3-4 this season.