USC Legion wins a pair to stay alive in playoffs

Published 8:49 am Monday, July 21, 2008

A pair of wins in the loser’s bracket has extended the season for the United South Central American Legion baseball team.

After a 9-3 loss to Welcome-Sherburn to open the postseason, Post 210 came back Saturday to record wins over St. James and Minnesota Lake.

With the two wins, USC automatically qualified for the district playoffs, which begin this weekend.

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Perhaps have a full roster helped Post 210 Saturday as it pounded the ball in an 11-1 win over St. James. In the opening game against Welcome-Sherburn USC had only nine players.

Post 210 used a nine-run third inning to blow past St. James.

Ned Kalis hit a grand slam in the third to lift USC. Kalis would finish the day with eight RBIs and four hits in the two games.

The third inning was a big inning for Post 210 as it scored a total of 13 runs in the two games and Kalis accounted for six of the runs.

Against Minnesota Lake, Kalis struck with a two-run double in the third that helped propel his team to a 9-6 win.

A.J. Dreyer did the rest on the mound as he went seven innings, struck out five and allowed eight hits in the win.

USC faced Minnesota Lake starter Eli Walters, who last time out against Post 210 registered 15 strikeouts in 2-1 loss. This time around USC struck out only three times and Walters lasted just 3 1/3 innings.

USC 11, St. James 1, 5 innings

St. James – 010 00 – 1 3 4

USC – 009 2x – 11 5 0

WP – Jake Bonsack 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

USC 9, Minnesota Lake 6

USC – 304 002 0 – 9 8 2

Minnesota Lake – 001 014 0 – 6 4 2

WP – A.J. Dreyer 7 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

LP – Eli Walters 3 1/3 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 3 K