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MANHATTAN —
MANHATTAN — Pittsburg Post 64 displayed its competitive mettle and its offensive explosiveness Thursday night during a winners’ bracket contest against host Manhattan in the Kansas American Legion Class AAA State Tournament.
Ahead 6-2 entering the sixth, Post 64 pitchers Blake Vail (starter), V.J. Piccini and Christian Cedeno did not retire Manhattan until the host team scored five runs and gained a 7-6 lead.
With one down in the bottom of the sixth, Post 64 regained its lead, went ahead 11-7 on a five-run call-and-response and then Post 64 retired Manhattan in the seventh to hold onto its lead en route to a 15-7 win.
Nate Grimaldi filled the sparkplug role Thursday night and he reached in the sixth on his third hit (first triple) of the night and came around to score the tying run. Bryce Burdette reached and moved into scoring position, not completely necessary since No. 3 hitter Sam Gilbert drove in Burdette with a triple and gave Post 64 back its lead. Gilbert promptly scored on a Cody Grilz single and Post 64 would tack on two more runs before its turn was over.
Grimaldi tripled again in the seventh and scored on a Burdette hit for a 12-7 Post 64 advantage. Burdette would later score on a wild pitch, Post 64 13-7.
Post 64 tacked on two more insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth and then Cedeno nailed the door shut on Manhattan in the ninth.
Grimaldi finished with four hits and three RBI. Grilz added three RBI.
Post 64 (31-12) plays in the 5 p.m. game tonight against the winner of the Newton and Hays game earlier Thursday night.
Post 64 17, Leavenworth Diamond Jaxx 1:
The Diamond Jaxx took an early 1-0 lead but that lead proved to last only until the bottom of the second when Post 64 posted a 2-spot on the scoreboard. Post 64 added five in the third, one in the fourth and nine in the sixth, that latter total building a double-digit lead headed into the seventh.
Post 64 scored its 17 runs on 10 hits (no extra-base hits) and six Diamond Jaxx errors.
Matt Standlee led Post 64 with three RBI, followed by Christian Cedeno and Nick George with two. Brett Macary, Sam Gilbert, Cody Grilz, Dylan Gromer, Blake Vail, Bryce Burdette and V.J. Piccini added RBI.
Cedeno stole three bases and Vail added two, as Post 64 ran wild on the Diamond Jaxx with eight stolen bases.
Joe Wimmer earned the win, pitching a complete game on 108 pitches, 75 for strikes. Wimmer struck out eight Diamond Jaxx hitters and surrendered one run on six hits. Post 64 committed no errors behind Wimmer — and Post 64 pitchers have allowed five runs over their last four games.
MANHATTAN — Pittsburg Post 64 displayed its competitive mettle and its offensive explosiveness Thursday night during a winners’ bracket contest against host Manhattan in the Kansas American Legion Class AAA State Tournament.
Ahead 6-2 entering the sixth, Post 64 pitchers Blake Vail (starter), V.J. Piccini and Christian Cedeno did not retire Manhattan until the host team scored five runs and gained a 7-6 lead.
With one down in the bottom of the sixth, Post 64 regained its lead, went ahead 11-7 on a five-run call-and-response and then Post 64 retired Manhattan in the seventh to hold onto its lead en route to a 15-7 win.
Nate Grimaldi filled the sparkplug role Thursday night and he reached in the sixth on his third hit (first triple) of the night and came around to score the tying run. Bryce Burdette reached and moved into scoring position, not completely necessary since No. 3 hitter Sam Gilbert drove in Burdette with a triple and gave Post 64 back its lead. Gilbert promptly scored on a Cody Grilz single and Post 64 would tack on two more runs before its turn was over.
Grimaldi tripled again in the seventh and scored on a Burdette hit for a 12-7 Post 64 advantage. Burdette would later score on a wild pitch, Post 64 13-7.
Post 64 tacked on two more insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth and then Cedeno nailed the door shut on Manhattan in the ninth.
Grimaldi finished with four hits and three RBI. Grilz added three RBI.
Post 64 (31-12) plays in the 5 p.m. game tonight against the winner of the Newton and Hays game earlier Thursday night.
Post 64 17, Leavenworth Diamond Jaxx 1:
The Diamond Jaxx took an early 1-0 lead but that lead proved to last only until the bottom of the second when Post 64 posted a 2-spot on the scoreboard. Post 64 added five in the third, one in the fourth and nine in the sixth, that latter total building a double-digit lead headed into the seventh.
Post 64 scored its 17 runs on 10 hits (no extra-base hits) and six Diamond Jaxx errors.
Matt Standlee led Post 64 with three RBI, followed by Christian Cedeno and Nick George with two. Brett Macary, Sam Gilbert, Cody Grilz, Dylan Gromer, Blake Vail, Bryce Burdette and V.J. Piccini added RBI.
Cedeno stole three bases and Vail added two, as Post 64 ran wild on the Diamond Jaxx with eight stolen bases.
Joe Wimmer earned the win, pitching a complete game on 108 pitches, 75 for strikes. Wimmer struck out eight Diamond Jaxx hitters and surrendered one run on six hits. Post 64 committed no errors behind Wimmer — and Post 64 pitchers have allowed five runs over their last four games.
Post 64 improved its overall record to 30-12 with its dismantling of the Diamond Jaxx. Manhattan defeated Easton Outlaws 20-1 in the late game Wednesday night.
In the early games Wednesday, Newton defeated Salina 10-3 and Hays beat Winfield 7-6.
Kansas American Legion Class AAA State Tournament
Thursday, August 2
Winners’ Bracket
Pittsburg Post 64 15, Manhattan Post 17 7
MAN 000 115 000 — 7 8 6
PITT 101 225 22X — 15 18 0
Spencer Anderson, Chris Klug (6) and Josh Mullin. Blake Vail, V.J. Piccini (6), Christian Cedeno (6) and Bryan Wade, Dylan Gromer (7). WP: Cedeno. LP: Anderson. 2B: Cody Grilz. 3B: Nate Grimaldi 2, Sam Gilbert 2. RBI: Grimaldi 3, Grilz 3, Bryce Burdette 2, Gilbert, Cedeno, Nate George, Gromer, Brett Macary. SB: Grimaldi 2, Burdette 2, Gilbert 2. SH: Burdette. SF: Grimaldi, George.
Wednesday, August 1
First Round
Post 64 17, Leavenworth Diamond Jaxx 1 (7 innings)
LDJ 100 000 0 — 1 6 6
PITT 025 109 X — 17 10 0
WP: Joe Wimmer (5-1). LP: Hoyt. 2B: VanSchoelandt 2, Messer. RBI: Richmond; Matt Standlee 3, Christian Cedeno 2, Nick George 2, Brett Macary, Sam Gilbert, Cody Grilz, Dylan Gromer, Blake Vail, Bryce Burdette, V.J. Piccini. SB: Cedeno 3, Vail 2, Nate Grimaldi, Burdette, Gromer. SH: Standlee. SF: George. HBP: Messer; Gromer.
