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Post 366 continues winning years ago

Team is now 18-1

Sports reporter

It was supposed to be its toughest week to date.

Instead the Hillsboro American Legion Post 366 dismantled four opponents this week, outscoring them 59-5 in five games.

The team also picked up two more victories without even playing.

The team was awarded two forfeit victories from a night where 366 traveled to play Herington, but its opponent never showed up.

At 18-1, Hillsboro has two games Thursday against Herington, and head coach Tim Hein is trying to add a few more before districts in Marion next week.

Hein said in a doubleheader June 25 on the road against the Salina Slammin' Sox, his team played well on both sides of the field, winning each game 15-0.

Brian Fruechting and Brian Palermo each threw complete game shutouts, and the offense scored 30 runs without hitting a home run.

"We just had lots and lots of base hits," Hein said.

He told his pitchers that if they just throw strikes, their defense will back them up.

"You can throw a lot less pitches if you throw strikes," Hein said.

As a team Hillsboro collected 28 hits in the doubleheader, and Hein was impressed with Jake Liles, who broke out of a slump, and Cole Starkey, who reached base all but one at bat in the two games.

Round-robin

The team began a round-robin league tournament Friday in Hillsboro, and quickly dispatched Buhler, 11-1.

Isaac Leihy threw the team's third complete game in as many games.

Again the team shared the wealth as everyone got into the hitting act.

Hein was impressed with a diving catch left fielder Calvin Jeffrey made.

It looked like the ball was going over his head, but the high school graduate leaped and made the catch just before the ball hit the ground.

"If we had a 'SportsCenter,' it would have been on there," Hein said.

Palermo, Travis Riesen, and Daniel Jost were the offensive starts Saturday in a 12-2 victory against Abilene.

Palermo hit three home runs, two inside-the-park, Riesen was 4-4 with a home run, and Jost was 3-4 with a home run.

Tyler Ediger pitched all but one inning allowing just one run, and Jacob Edwards closed out the game with a scoreless inning.

Hillsboro avenged its only loss of the season Sunday, with a 6-2 victory against Moundridge, to improve its record to 2-1 in head-to-head games.

Through the first three innings, Hillsboro had struck out six times, but managed to hold a 4-2 lead.

"We battled," Hein said. "We manufactured runs when we needed to."

Jacob Fish had a two-run single, to help the team carry a gaudy .947 winning percentage.

If the team can come out of district play next week, it will head to the state tournament in Garden City.

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