It has been a virtual hit parade for Pittsburg Post 64 over their last four games.
So much so that Post 64 has tallied 64 runs in those four games against Fort Scott [Monday] and Independence [Tuesday].
“We’ve got good hitters 1-9 and it really doesn’t matter where we start, we have the potential to score runs,” said Post 64 head coach Mike Watt. “You add our team speed to that and we have the potential to put up runs in a hurry.”
At Independence Tuesday, Pittsburg blasted out 18 runs on 14 hits in an 18-1 win in the first game and came back to take the second game by a whopping 21-6.
“We’ve been pretty consistent in all areas,” Watt said. “We really haven’t had many weak spots and we take kind of a workman’s attitude and get things done.”
That attitude also helped Post 64 take a 9-1 and 16-0 doubleheader from Fort Scott on Monday.
Tuesday, five Post 64 hitters had multiple hits in the first game and all 12 players that traveled got a hit in the second game.
Willie Watt came through with a 4-for-4 performance in game two and six of the 12 players had multiple hits.
In addition, Pittsburg’s six pitchers used against Independence held them to just seven runs on 10 hits over 11 innings of play.
Post 64 collected doubles in the first game from Zach White, Kenny Wachter, Adam McCormick and Stu Jeck as well as a triple from Jesse Watt and a home run from Willie Watt.
In the second game, Wachter, McCormick and Willie Watt each had a pair of doubles.
It might leave one to thing that Post 64 is peaking at this point in the season.
Not so fast though.
“Honestly, I don’t think we’re peaking, we are just playing to our potential,” Mike Watt said. “There are still some areas we need to improve.”
One of those areas is defense, but Mike Watt said that a lack of games hinders the learning process.
Post 64 had had nine of its scheduled games canceled either because of weather or opponent cancellation. On Wednesday, Pittsburg was slated to travel to Fort Scott, but an afternoon shower prompted that twinbill to be called off.
“It is frustrating,” Mike Watt said. “I only scheduled 35 games because these kids are pulled in so many different directions and they have lots of other irons in the fire and you can’t just play 50-60 games.”
But, he said that the attitude of the Pittsburg roster remains good and that helps getting through game cancellations.
“The kids even had a good attitude tonight [Wednesday] but, they were all dressed up with no place to go,” Mike Watt said. “They really get along and they look for every opportunity to play.”
Post 64 is scheduled to return to JayCee Ballpark Saturday and Sunday when they entertain six other teams for round-robin play. Pittsburg will play Springfield Parkview at 10 a.m. Saturday and Springfield Glendale at 5:30 p.m.
On Sunday, they will take on Springfield Kickapoo at 10 a.m. and Springfield Hillcrest at 5:30 p.m.
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It has been a virtual hit parade for Pittsburg Post 64 over their last four games.
So much so that Post 64 has tallied 64 runs in those four games against Fort Scott [Monday] and Independence [Tuesday].
“We’ve got good hitters 1-9 and it really doesn’t matter where we start, we have the potential to score runs,” said Post 64 head coach Mike Watt. “You add our team speed to that and we have the potential to put up runs in a hurry.”
At Independence Tuesday, Pittsburg blasted out 18 runs on 14 hits in an 18-1 win in the first game and came back to take the second game by a whopping 21-6.
“We’ve been pretty consistent in all areas,” Watt said. “We really haven’t had many weak spots and we take kind of a workman’s attitude and get things done.”
That attitude also helped Post 64 take a 9-1 and 16-0 doubleheader from Fort Scott on Monday.
Tuesday, five Post 64 hitters had multiple hits in the first game and all 12 players that traveled got a hit in the second game.
Willie Watt came through with a 4-for-4 performance in game two and six of the 12 players had multiple hits.
In addition, Pittsburg’s six pitchers used against Independence held them to just seven runs on 10 hits over 11 innings of play.
Post 64 collected doubles in the first game from Zach White, Kenny Wachter, Adam McCormick and Stu Jeck as well as a triple from Jesse Watt and a home run from Willie Watt.
In the second game, Wachter, McCormick and Willie Watt each had a pair of doubles.
It might leave one to thing that Post 64 is peaking at this point in the season.
Not so fast though.
“Honestly, I don’t think we’re peaking, we are just playing to our potential,” Mike Watt said. “There are still some areas we need to improve.”
One of those areas is defense, but Mike Watt said that a lack of games hinders the learning process.
Post 64 had had nine of its scheduled games canceled either because of weather or opponent cancellation. On Wednesday, Pittsburg was slated to travel to Fort Scott, but an afternoon shower prompted that twinbill to be called off.
“It is frustrating,” Mike Watt said. “I only scheduled 35 games because these kids are pulled in so many different directions and they have lots of other irons in the fire and you can’t just play 50-60 games.”
But, he said that the attitude of the Pittsburg roster remains good and that helps getting through game cancellations.
“The kids even had a good attitude tonight [Wednesday] but, they were all dressed up with no place to go,” Mike Watt said. “They really get along and they look for every opportunity to play.”
Post 64 is scheduled to return to JayCee Ballpark Saturday and Sunday when they entertain six other teams for round-robin play. Pittsburg will play Springfield Parkview at 10 a.m. Saturday and Springfield Glendale at 5:30 p.m.
On Sunday, they will take on Springfield Kickapoo at 10 a.m. and Springfield Hillcrest at 5:30 p.m.
Matthew Clark can be reached at matthew.clark@morningsun.net or at 620-231-2600, Ext. 140. Follow Morning Sun sports at twitter.com/mssports.
American Legion baseball
at Independence
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Game one
Pittsburg Post 64 18, Independence 1, 4 inn,
Post 64 700 (11) — 18 14 1
Indy 000 1 — 1 1 3
Brandon Spear, Nick Whetzell (4) and Kenny Wachter. Brandon Stein, Bryce Smith (4) and Lane Hoffmeister. WP — Spear. LP — Stein. LOB — Pittsburg 5, Independence 5. 2B — Zach White, Wachter, Adam McCormick, Stu Jeck. 3B — Tanner Smith. HR — Jesse Watt.
Game two
Pittsburg Post 64 21, Independence 4
Post 64 213 024 9 — 21 19 1
Indy 100 003 0 — 6 9 2
Kaleb Clark, Aaron Snow (3), Nick Whetzel (6), Adam McCormick (7) and Whetzell, Kenny Wachter (6). Dylan Kemp, Cole Shepherd (6) and Rhett Flood. WP — Clark. LP — Kemp. LOB — Pittsburg 8, Independence 10. 2B — Wachter 2, Jesse Watt, McCormick 2, Willie Watt 2; Shepherd.
