Post 30 got together after the long holiday to host Breckenridge Post 53 Jr Legion on Monday, July 8. Post 30 swept the visiting Post 53, winning by scores of 9-6 and 4-2.

They took an early lead in game one and rode four strong innings on the hill by pitcher Dylan Palach (4.0 IP, 3H, 0ER, 2Ks) en route to a 9-6 win. The southpaw pitcher baffled the visitors and paired his tailing fastball with an effective changeup to get many ground ball and soft fly ball outs.

Breckenridge took a 1-0 lead on an unearned run in the first inning but Post 30 scored in each of the first four inning to take a commanding 7-1 lead after four frames. Ian Stumbo scored the first run on the night for Post 30 in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Abel Aho. Jack Baker laced a single up the middle of the field a couple batters later to score Jaden Norby for Post 30’s second run.

Palach worked out a bit of a jam in the second to strand two Breckenridge runners. Matt Scott and Stumbo each singled in the bottom of the second to set the table for Norby. Norby hit a hard ground ball to score Scott. Stumbo scored on the same play on an errant throw. Both runs came with two outs.

Brandon Brusven tripled to right field, starting a two-out rally in the bottom of the third. Scott was hit by a pitch and moved to second on defensive indifference. Jack Culbertson then lined a double to right field to score both Brusven and Scott.

Palach used 11 pitches in the fourth inning to retire Breckenridge in order. Norby drew a walk in the bottom half of the inning and scored from second on a single by Bryce Burrill.

Drew Bailey (2.0 IP, 3ER) and Dustin Duenow (1.0IP, 2ER) relieved Palach and managed to hold Breckenridge in check the rest of the way. Breckenridge scored three runs in the top of the sixth, but Post 30 put two more runs on the board with Stumbo and Norby each scoring runs.

Breckenridge scored a couple runs in the top of the seventh and final inning, but could not closed the gap, and Post 30 won 9-6.

In game two of the doubleheader with Breckenridge, four pitchers paced Post 30 to a 4-2 victory. Wyatt Goetz (2.0 IP, 2H, 1ER) started the game and David Horgen (3.0 IP, 1H, 0ER), Culbertson (1.0IP, 0H, 0R), and Duenow (1.0 IP, 0H, 0R) pitched scoreless relief to get the team a win.

Down 2-0 in the home half of the third inning, Post 30 scored two runs to tie the game on a single by Arik Heacox. Kolson Papon and Norby both scored on Heacox’s base hit.

Both teams were silent until the bottom of the sixth inning when Post 30 scored the deciding runs. Baker was hit by a pitch to start the home half and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Bailey sacrifice-bunted Baker over to third. Papon then got the game-winning RBI when he singled to the center fielder to score Baker. Papon advanced to second on a wild pitch the next batter and scored from second on a single by Norby. Fresh of his save in game one, Duenow set the visitors down in order to earn his second save of the day and give Post 30 a 4-2 win.

On Friday, July 12, Post 30 played a doubleheader with Perham Junior Legion at the historic Tuffy Stadium at Krueger Field in Perham. Post 30 swept the host team, winning 1-0 and 6-4.

Game one was a classic pitchers’ duel. Post 30’s Jaden Norby (7.0IP, 2H, 0ER, 12K) didn’t allow a single run and struck out 12 batters. Perham’s Chas Melvin (7.0IP, 5H, 1ER, 11K) was nearly as good.

Bats were silent until the top of the sixth inning. Post 30 had many quality at-bats during the game and pushed Melvin’s pitch count late in the game to nearly 100 pitches. In the sixth, Norby walked to start the inning and was replaced by a courtesy runner, Drew Bailey. Arik Heacox then hit a line drive to left field. Bailey had a good jump but was thrown out at home on a perfect relay from left field to shortstop to catcher. A couple batters later, with Heacox at second and two outs, Abel Aho hit the first pitch he saw to right field, scoring Heacox from second and giving Post 30 its only needed run. Norby retired five of the last six batters he faced to complete the game and get the 1-0 win.

Often times in baseball a couple errors here and there can spell disaster for a team, spoil a good pitching effort, and cost the team a win. Post 30 was able to overcome some mishaps in game two of the doubleheader and head home with a 6-4 and doubleheader sweep. Heacox (4.0IP, 3H, 2R, 0ER, 5K) and Dustin Duenow (3.0IP, 3H, 2R, 0ER) pitched for Post 30. The key stat line is they allowed zero earned runs through the course of the game.

Aho and Jack Baker each had multiple hits for Post 30. Baker led the team with three RBI. Post 30 built a 5-2 lead after four innings. Perham was just pesky enough to keep things interesting as they scored two in the fifth inning to cut Post 30’s lead to one run. Post 30 had runners on second and third in the top of the seventh inning when Duenow laid down a bunt. Goetz was already coming home and crossed the plate before the fielder even got to the ball on a perfectly executed suicide squeeze. It was an exciting play for Post 30 and provided an insurance run against any late-inning heroics by the host team.

Post 30 plays at Dilworth’s “Bob Marshall Field” against DGF on Monday, July 15 and wraps up the regular season in Bemidji at BSU Field on Wednesday, July 17. Our Sub-state/District tournament is July 21-23 in Bemidji and includes Post 30, Bemidji Woodpeckers, Moorhead Golds, East Grand Forks, and Perham.

Thank you to American Legion Post 30 for their continued support of youth activities in the area!