Legion team continues undefeated record
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
The American Legion Post 366 baseball team is off to a quick start.
Now, it's just a matter of whether or not Coach Lyman Adams and his team can keep the engine running.
The engine fired right up as Post 366 opened the season June 5 at Hillsboro against El Dorado.
Somehow, the Class 5A city posed no threat to 366, who got the season off on the right foot, sweeping El Dorado courtesy of the 10-run mercy rule, 14-4 and 16-6.
Fresh off a state tournament appearance where his team fell just three runs shy of toppling eventual state champion Baxter Springs, Marion's Robert Verbic pitched two scoreless first-game innings.
Verbic spelled his defense with a solid offensive outing, going 2 for 3 with a triple and a double.
Steve Chisholm went 2 for 2, driving in a game-high three runs.
In the nightcap, and needing three runs to polish off El Dorado in the bottom of the fifth, Dustin Jost went deep with a three-run home run.
Jost and Kris Jones each drove in three runs while Chisholm fired a two-hitter through four innings from the mound.
Post 366 showed no signs of being fatigued June 6 at Chapman, upending the hosting team, 14-10 in nine innings.
Shawn Hughbanks supplied the fireworks against Chapman, decking a three-run homer in 366's three-run third, and a double and a single, going 3 for 6.
Coming off a second team All-Class 3A season, Hillsboro High School ace Jerod Metcalf tossed a four hitter in seven innings for the victory, and fanning 12 batters.
Hughbanks pitched one-and-two-thirds of an inning, picking up a save.
The 3-0 Post 366 was scheduled to be in action Tuesday night against Augusta. No results were available at time of publication.
Post 366 then gets its next seven opponents at home, beginning June 18 against Lyons.
