Post 366 wins fifth straight game years ago
Hillsboro American Legion baseball team comes from behind to nip Salina, 7-6
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
For the Hillsboro American Legion Post 366 baseball team, the evening began looking like the dark western sky. After a rain delay the once dark sky turned to blue as 366 overcame a 6-0 deficit to top the Salina Noon Optimist team, 7-6 for 366's fifth straight win.
Longtime Hillsboro Legion coach Lyman Adams watched Thursday night as the game nearly came uncorked on 366 at the top of the third inning.
Already facing a 1-0 deficit after starter Chad Hughbanks gave up an unearned run in the top of the first, the third inning had to be the worst 366 has seen this year.
Post 366 spotted Salina four unearned runs off just one hit and three errors to give it a 5-0 lead after two and one-half innings of play.
Hillsboro gave away another unearned run in the top of the fourth with a sacrifice fly giving Salina a 6-0 lead.
Jimmy Shipman finally broke up the shutout in the bottom of the fourth, with an RBI single to score Kyle Jilka.
After an hour-long rain delay, Shipman took over on the mound, relieving Hughbanks.
Shipman retired the side in the fifth inning in order to set up one of the biggest rallies for Post 366 this year.
Justin Moore and Matt Brown were issued free passes before Caleb Marsh trimmed the lead to four runs with an RBI single.
Hughbanks cut the lead in half on the next batter, driving in Brown with another run-scoring single.
Marsh scoring on an error cutting the lead to 6-4 before the big fireworks came in the bottom of the seventh.
Mitch Enos took one in the shoulder with the bases chucked to score Moore, cutting the lead to 6-5.
Jilka scored the tying run, setting up Shipman for the game winner.
The hero on the mound didn't disappoint, scoring the winning run with a base-hit and lifting 366's record to 10-9 on the year.
Post 366 traveled Tuesday night to Halstead before closing out the regular season at home tonight against Halstead.
Game time is scheduled for 6 and 8:30 p.m.
