Pile leads Sidney to senior night win

Behind Austin Pile's two RBI on three doubles and a very strong five-inning, one-hit outing on the mound, the Sidney Post 17 senior team took home a 6-1 victory against Buckley Tuesday on senior night at Legion Field.

The team totaled nine hits and two errors on the night.

Gordon was originally scheduled as Sidney's opponent but forfeited, as it couldn't field enough players for the game. With that win, the Post 17 seniors clinched the top seed in districts next week in Alliance.

But Sidney saw no reason to coast. Pile kicked things off immediately in the bottom half of the first. Leadoff hitter Bradey Holtz drew a walk against Buckley starter Gunnar Kroeger and then Pile scored him on an RBI double that he smoked to the left center gap.

Pile was shot down at home by Buckley right fielder Drew Coffin on a very close play, trying to score on Colton Onstott's hard-hit double.

With two outs in the third, Pile doubled again-this time to the warning track in left field. Kroeger was able to hold Sidney scoreless in the second and third inning however.

"I just saw the ball coming out of the pitcher's hand really well tonight," said Pile.

Sidney got back on the scoreboard in the fourth inning. But this time it was some excellent, heads-up base running that allowed it to add to its lead. With one out in the frame, second baseman Jaden Sears lined a single between the third baseman and shortstop. Sears then stole second right before Travis Garska flew out to shallow left field.

First baseman Kyle Burton made it to first on a dropped strike three to extend Sidney's inning, with Sears advancing to third on the miscue. With center fielder Austin Wilson batting Burton stole second and Sears came in to score on an errant throw to second from catcher Caleb Andersen. Burton went to third on the poor throw.

Wilson eventually took a six-pitch walk and then, with runners on first and third with two gone, he stole second. Burton came home to score Sidney's third run of the night on Andersen's attempt to cut down Wilson.

Sidney runners stole three bases in the inning and really forced the issue, putting pressure on the Buckley battery to make quick, accurate throws.

"Tonight was senior night so we let the seniors do it how they wanted to do it," said assistant coach Tommy Arellano. "We gave them green lights. We just let them play the game."

"If we can get base runners on, we can engineer runs by getting guys in scoring position," said manager Mark Onstott. "If you get the leadoff guy on it puts a lot of pressure on teams 70 percent of the time at this level."

Meanwhile Pile had a one-hitter going through five innings and only needed 49 pitches to do it. He was in control all evening and his defense supported him with a pair of nicely turned double plays.

In the bottom of the fifth Sidney struck again. Holtz led off with a single and after stealing second was driven in by Pile's third double of the game. This time around though Pile was able to score on another double by Onstott, making it a 5-0 lead for Sidney.

Scott Phillips next drew a walk and then things got a little sloppy on the base paths after a very impressive fourth inning running the bases. Garska drove in Onstott with a single to shallow right center but then trying to advance to second on the play, forced Phillips to run to third. Phillips, not expecting Garska to try for second, was thrown out at third to end the inning with Sidney leading 6-0.

Pile came back out to the mound and recorded one out-a groundout by left fielder Reece Coffin-in the top of the sixth before Onstott brought in Wilson to relieve him.

Pile finished with one hit and no runs allowed in 5.1 innings of work, while fanning a pair of Buckley batters and walking none.

"That was probably my best pitching performance," Pile said. "It felt great out there, the defense backed me up. I'm not a strikeout pitcher. I like to let the defense do it for me and they were great tonight."

Wilson was shaky at first, allowing a one-out single to Cordell Hensley and walking Drew Coffin in his first two at-bats. After inducing a pop out off the bat of Cole McKinely he hit shortstop Taylor Mayden with a pitch, loading the bases.

Taylor's brother Brennan Mayden then drove in Henley for Buckley's first run of the night. Andersen grounded out to end Buckley's threat in the sixth.

Wilson came back out in the top of the seventh, and hit Andersen with a pitch. Onstott eventually bailed him out, throwing a laser down to second that beat Andersen trying to steal by a good five feet.

That ended Wilson's outing on senior night. With one out in the seventh, manager Onstott handed the ball to Phillips to finish the game.

"I was a little nervous," Wilson said. "Just trying to keep that 6-1 lead and throwing strikes. That's all I was looking for."

Phillips gave up a single to the first batter he faced, Gunnar Kroeger. But he was able to get the next two outs with ease to seal the win for Sidney.

Alex Maestas made his first senior start of the summer in left field for Sidney. Although he finished the night 0 for 3, he showed the patience he's known for in each of his plate appearances and made a nice catch in left to end Buckley's fifth inning.

"It felt pretty good to start for once," Maestas said. "I was little nervous up at bat. I was trying to prove something, but it will come around."

The seniors will play Wednesday night in Chappell at 7 p.m.

Linescore

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E

Buckley 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 4 1

Sidney 1 0 0 2 3 0 X 6 9 2

AB H R RBI 2B 3B K BB SB

Bradey Holtz 3 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 2

Austin Pile 4 3 1 2 3 0 1 0 0

Colton Onstott 3 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 1

Scott Phillips 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Jaden Sears 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0

Travis Garska 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

Kyle Burton 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 1

Austin Wilson 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1

Alex Maestas 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0

IP H R ER K BB HBP

Austin Pile 5.1 1 0 0 2 0 0

Austin Wilson 1.0 2 1 1 0 1 2

Scott Phillips 0.2 1 0 0 0 0 0