Even in defeat Friday, the Arlington Senior Legion baseball team knew it had another Ralph Bishop League (RBL) Tournament game to play the next day.
“It's an opportunity,” pitcher Tyler Ott said.
It wasn't the chance the Post 71 Eagles wanted Saturday in Wisner, but the third-place game would have to do after a 10-0 home loss to Pender.
“I don't know if (the third place team) gets a medal or not, but it's to play to up our confidence into the latter half of our season,” Ott said.
Facing Battle Creek, coach TJ Stosich's Arlington Seniors dominated and won, 17-1. The bounce-back, Saturday afternoon victory came in run-rule fashion when the Eagles put the Braves away with nine runs during the sixth inning.
“Everyone contributed,” Stosich said. “Tanner Kyllo, Tim Halley, Blaine Vogt, Luke Sharp and Jackson Stosich all had doubles as part of a multi-hit game for them.”
Arlington initially took control of the RBL's third-place game when it scored five runs during the third inning, breaking a 1-1 tie. Post 71's pitching held the lead from there.
“Andy Misfeldt battled for us on the bump as well,” Coach Stosich said. “He has been more of a closer for us, but did a great job today starting.”
The end result was a strong response to a potentially, momentum-stealing loss the night before. Pender had scored its first run during the first inning on an Arlington error and led from there, winning 10-0 in five innings.
“It started with me, too,” Ott said, disappointed at the time. “We come out, home team, we're obviously pitching first, and I just didn't have it.”
The right-hander struck out two batters during the first and second innings, but also watched as the visitors built a 6-0 lead.
Ott believed the Eagles' struggles on defense affected the offense, too.
“It kind of just bled over to the hitting,” he explained.
Arlington produced its lone hit during the fifth and final inning as Jackson Stosich earned an infield single. Kyllo and Halley were the Eagles' only other base runners after Kyllo reached on an error during the fourth frame and stole second base. Halley walked in the fourth inning, too.
Wes Monke, meanwhile, stepped out onto the mound for Ott during the third inning, producing two scoreless innings before Pender put away the game by run-rule in the fifth.
“Wes did great,” Ott said. “Wes threw strikes.”
It was a tough night overall for Arlington pitching, though.
“I thought the ump had a little bit of a tight zone, but Wes came in and dealt with it,” Ott said.
Pender's players, flat out, just played well with a bat in their hands, too, the pitcher continued.
“I think they're probably just as hot as we are — or, we were,” he said.
The Seniors may have earned their momentum back, however, against Battle Creek.
The Arlington Juniors, meanwhile, lost their semifinals game Friday to Pender, 9-1, before a third-place game loss to Wayne on Saturday. The Devils edged the Post 71 Eagles 9-7, capping Arlington's tournament record at 2-2 overall.
Arlington advances to semis
Both the Arlington Juniors and Seniors beat Columbus Lakeview on July 3 to advance onto the RBL semifinals. The Juniors won 8-5 before the Seniors' 10-6 victory.
“Good pitching and aggressive base running,” Coach Stosich when asked for the keys to victory. Misfeldt, Saturday's starter, induced the game-ending pop out during the Seniors game. The win was Post 71's eighth of the season.
POST 71 SENIOR LINE SCORES
Saturday
Arlington 17, Battle Creek 1, 6 inn.
ARLO (9-7) 1 0 5 1 1 9 — 17
BC 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 1
Friday
Pender 10, Arlington 0, 5 inn.
PENDER 2 4 0 0 4 — 10
ARLO (8-7) 0 0 0 0 0 — 0
July 3
Arlington 10, Columbus Lakeview 6
ARLO (8-6); CL (NA)
