Legion Post 295 preps for state tournament

The American Legion Post 295 baseball team, which features 10 players from Gratiot County high schools, is now 8-11 on the season after going 0-3 at the Chin Music tournament last weekend in Lake Odessa.
Gideon Sacco from Alma had Post 295’s lone hit in their opening 7-3 loss to the Lake Odessa team, a leadoff single. Noah Barr of Breckenridge took the decision on the mound for Post 295.
Grand Rapids Elite won the second game, 6-1. Sacco pitched and took the loss, while acquitting himself well at the plate with two hits.
It was also 6-1 in Post 295’s loss to Hillsdale. Alma’s Braxton Schick was the losing pitcher, striking out five over four innings.
Prior to the Chin Music tournament, Post 295 lost a doubleheader to defending GCBL Champion St. Louis Spirits 10-1 and 3-2.
“St Louis is legit,” Post 295 head coach Chuck Murphy said. “They’re loaded with former college guys that can hit and pitch, and are experienced.”
The second game was a heartbreaker for the youngsters, as the Spirits won on a walk-off run following a passed all. Post 295 had led 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning. Then St. Louis reached on an error, put runners at second and third on a double, before tying it on a suicide squeeze.
Grant Vedrode drove in two runs on a base hit for Post 295. Sacco took the loss, striking out seven in seven innings of work while allowing five hits and two earned runs.
“Gideon has proven to be quite the bulldog on the mound,” Murphy said. “We just need to clean it up defensively and we’ll be a tough out.”
The Spirits jumped on Post 295 early in the opening game, with seven runs in the first inning. A pair of Breckenridge Huskis, Justin Pryoer and Jaden Ostrander, put together back-to-back hits for their only run.
Post 295 was coming off a split with Beal City, beating Beal City 3-1 and then falling 12-5.
Schick had an RBI double, while Aiden Schoof drove in two runs on a single and Elliot Bass had two hits and scored a run.
Camden Smith from Breckenridge was the winning pitcher, while Barr picked up the save.
Nine unearned runs doomed 295 in the nightcap. Alma’s Jayden Warner had a double and single.
Post 295 travels to Flint to take place in the Slumpbuster Tournament this weekend. It is their final tune-up before heading to the American Legion state tournament where they will represent American Legion Zone 3. Their first game is July 27 against Hudson Post 180.