Published: July 10, 2009 12:13 am         

Wayne Newton triumphs as state tournament approaches

TERRE HAUTE — Wayne Newton Post 346 closed its American Legion regular home baseball season on a winning note Thursday, defeating Bloomington Post 18 7-3.

Post 346 won its second game of the week to hike its record to 21-8 and will close the season with a single game at Rockport on Saturday and a doubleheader against two Kentucky teams Sunday at Owensboro.

“We’ll practice next week and get ready for the sectional,” said Manager John Hayes.

Wayne Newton plays in the four-team sectional at Vincennes, meeting Greene County on July 17 while Vincennes plays St. Bernice in the other first-round game.

The winner of that sectional goes to the regional at Princeton and Post 346 will be the host team for the state tournament.

Wayne Newton made the most of one hit in Thursday’s game to score four runs in the second inning when losing pitcher Ben Riggins walked five batters. Nick Pilpovich had the only hit.

Post 18 cut the Wayne Newton lead to 5-3 in the sixth stanza but Wayne Newton got two more in the seventh to close out the scoring for the evening.

Jared Eller went five innings and got the win, improving to 2-0, and Hayes used four other pitchers to get ready for the weekend.

Wayne Newton had eight hits. Zac Niehaus was 2 for 4 while Jacob Hayes was 1 for 4 with two RBIs and reached base three times. Parker Fulkerson was 1 for 3 with an RBI and was on base four times.

Mat Irwin came on in relief of Riggens and retired 10 of the first 11 batters he faced before giving up three straight hits to Dougie Collett, Niehaus and Fulkerson in the seventh frame.

Joey Forney had the only extra-base hit of the contest, a double, and singled to account for two of the six Post 18 hits.

“The kids are playing well and play good defense. We’re ready for the tournament,” said Hayes.



Post 18 010 011 000 — 3 6 2

Post 346 041 000 20x — 7 8 1

Riggins, Irwin (4), Henderson (8) and Rovenstein; Eller, Goodman (6), Walker (7), Reed (8), Bush (9) and Pilpovich. W — Eller (2-0). L — Riggins.

Next — Wayne Newton Post 346 (21-8) closes the regular season at Rockport on Saturday and against two teams at Owensboro, Ky., on Sunday. Post 18 is 11-13.