SANDUSKY — Neither coach was particularly happy with Wednesday’s non-league American Legion game.
Sandusky Post 83 scored all of its runs in one inning — the second — and survived a late push by Elyria Post 12 to take an 8-5 win at Perkins High School.
Sandusky (15-5) collected eight of its 11 hits in that inning. Post 83 managed only three singles over the other five innings it got to bat.
Elyria (19-6) gave Sandusky a little help with some lackadaisical fielding in the huge inning. A misplayed fly ball, a mishandled bunt, a failure to cover a base and an ill-advised throw added to Post 12’s misery.
“We have to play better defense,” Elyria coach Brad Chenoweth said. “That’s the bottom line. The wheels came off in the second inning. It was unbelievable.”
Sandusky coach Dave Cordy was happy with the victory, but not in the way it was achieved.
“We had one inning,” Cordy said. “It was good to come back and win after being ripped by Fremont (on Tuesday), but we have to learn to play seven innings. We’re not being patient at the plate. Our pitching kept us in the game.”
Mike Shepherd picked up the victory, throwing the final five innings. Mike Hamman started for Sandusky, but was removed after two innings to have him for a weekend tournament at Anthony Wayne High School.
Elyria, which has lost three of four games to Sandusky this summer, didn’t exactly spread around its offense, either. Post 12 had four of its runs and four of its seven hits in the sixth.
“Once again, we didn’t hit the way we can,” Chenoweth said. “The pitching was good for the most part. We’re trying to save our pitchers for a tournament just as they are.”
Elyria will be at a tournament in Marion, hosted by the Prospect American Legion team. Post 12 used five pitchers Wednesday.
Spencer Bryant started Sandusky’s second with a fly ball that two Elyria outfielders allowed to fall between them after a late moment of indecision. Jared Patton laced a single to center, Jed Cullen beat out a bunt and Andrew Enderle walked to bring in the first run.
Ryan Krumlauf and Matt Gundlach had two-run singles for Post 83 and Eric Hahn belted a two-run double. Hahn went to third as the bag was unguarded and scored on a throwing error in an attempt to erase him at third.
Adam Beach’s sacrifice fly to center scored Kyle Shaw with Elyria’s first run in the third. Shaw was playing his first game of the Legion season after spending six weeks in a cast because of a broken finger.
Beach started Elyria’s sixth with a walk and went to second on a wild pitch. Andrew Eliopoulos delivered Beach with a one-out single and Nick Simonovich followed him with a single. Mike Starkey was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Jake Loczi singled home Eliopoulos and Simonovich and a two-out hit by Shaw scored Starkey to make it 8-5. Shepherd retired the last four Elyria batters to nail down the victory.
Nate Coughlin was Elyria’s most effective pitcher, facing seven batters over two innings and striking out three.
Contact Steve Byrne at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

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