Legion Post 366 heads into zone tournament years ago
Hillsboro baseball team drops final four regular season games
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
Give the Hillsboro American Legion Post 366 baseball team credit where it's due.
Its record (5-16) might not be anything to write home about, but 366 hasn't been giving in without a fight.
That fighting spirit and heart should be good allies to have as 366 opens up zone tournament play Friday at Ellsworth.
Unfortunately, Hillsboro will be riding a four-game slide into the tournament with the infamous 'ones that got away.'
Post 366 wrapped up the regular season July 6, tumbling in a pair of crushing one-run games against the same hosting Herington team it swept a week earlier.
The shoe was on the other foot this time with Herington taking respective 4-3, and 5-4 wins in games 366 just couldn't get over the hill.
Doubled over 4-2 in the opener, 366 had both the tying and go-ahead runs on board with the bases loaded and down to its last three outs.
Aaron Stepanek drove in a two-out RBI-single before Hillsboro's hopes fizzled out on a shallow infield fly.
The finale also saw 366 jumping out to a 1-0 lead after the top half of the first inning.
But Herington again overtook the lead with a three-run first inning which proved too much for 366 to eclipse, only tie.
That came in the top of the third when Dustin Burnett ripped the game-tying single to drive in Stepanek.
With the game again knotted and Herington down to its final out, the sky fell on Hillsboro.
Herington swiped the winning run when the ball was misplayed in the infield, buying enough time to cross the plate.
Troy Frick fired a three-hitter and punched out six, but still took the loss.
Post 366's tough luck season carried over from the night before when it closed out the home portion of its schedule with 7-6 and 5-1 losses to Moundridge.
Hillsboro opens tournament play at 8:30 p.m. against the winner of Hesston and hosting Ellsworth.
