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Toronto Post 86 earns another victory in tournament

TORONTO — Toronto Post 86’s Zac Berger led the way, and his teammates followed.

Berger recorded three hits, two RBIs and scored the go-ahead run leading Post 86 to a 6-3 victory over Brilliant Post 573 during the Region 7 American Legion Baseball Tournament on a sunny Saturday afternoon at the Knights Baseball Complex.

“Zac had a big day,” Toronto (12-10) coach Greg Harrick said. “He has gotten big hits for us all season. He had some clutch hits today. He carried us for the first four innings. He sparked us. We were not doing much in the first few innings.”

Post 86 plated three runs in the top of the sixth, and Toronto tallied two more in the seventh to rally from a two-run deficit.

With the win, Toronto advanced to play Jefferson County in the third game of the day. With the loss, Brilliant will play in an elimination game at 3:30 p.m. today.

Post 573’s Matthew Nest was ejected from the game after arguing with the home plate umpire after striking out to end the bottom of the fifth inning.

“We let our emotions get the better of us,” Brilliant (7-17) coach Mickey Nest said. “We lost our No. 3 hitter. The boy has struck out twice all season, and he gets called out looking two times today. He had a good reason to be upset, but you have to keep your composure. You have to keep your emotions in check.”

While Berger did the heavy lifting at the plate, Toronto received a strong performance from A.J. Clegg on the mound. Clegg recorded the win for Post 86 as he struck out eight, walked two and allowed three runs (none earned) on three hits.

Due to his pitch count, Clegg was removed from the game with one out in the seventh. Logan Torma replaced Clegg and entered with a runner on first. Torma struck out the first batter he faced, and the final out of the game was recorded when Conrad Gump threw out a runner trying to steal.

“A.J. pitched a heck of a game,” Herrick said. “The pitch count is 105 pitches, and he used all of them. He said he felt good, so we let him stay in there.”

Dakota Swearingen went the distance and took the loss for Brilliant. Swearingen struck out one, walked two and allowed six runs on nine hits.

“Sometimes, we are emotionally fragile,” coach Nest said. “That happens sometimes. We let our guard down. You can’t let that happen against a good team like that.”

Post 86 produced five runs on five hits in the final two innings.

Berger recorded two singles and a triple to lead the way offensively for Toronto. Johnny Marelli tallied two singles and an RBI. Richie Gualtiere collected an RBI double. Cole Bodnar contributed an RBI single.

Mason Goddard delivered two singles to lead the way for Brilliant, while Fred Horner finished with an RBI.

Toronto struck first in the opening frame when Berger singled home Nick Chetock, who walked to start the game, making the score 1-0.

Brilliant answered right back in the home half of the inning. Goodard singled, stole second and moved to third on an error. Goodard ended up scoring on a sacrifce fly by Horner to tie the score at 1-1.

Post 573 plated two runs in the third to take a 3-1 lead. Brilliant was aided by a pair of Toronto errors.

With one out, Goodard reached on an infield single, and he moved to second on a throwing error. Goodard then stole third after eluding the tag from Marelli at third. Ryan Morgan followed by getting hit by a pitch.

Morgan then stole second base and moved to third when the throw to second went into center field, allowing Goodard to score to give Brilliant a 2-1 advantage. Morgan then scored on a wild pitch to increase Post 573’s advantage to two.

Toronto’s offense came alive in the sixth after the ejection in the bottom of the fifth.

“The ejection got the kids fired up,” Herrick said. “They were rowdy, and they started to hit.”

With one out in the sixth, Chetock walked for the second time. He moved to third on a single to left by Marelli. Berger followed with a two-run triple to knot the score at 3-3. Then, Bodnar brought Berger home with a base hit to give Toronto a one run advantage.

Post 86 produced a pair of insurance runs in the seventh. Boyd started the inning with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Gualtiere’s double to make the score 5-3. Gualtiere ended up scoring on a two-out base hit by Marelli to extend Toronto’s advantage to 6-3.

“All of our games with them have been back and forth,” coach Nest said. “They all could have gone either way. It is frustrating. We know we are the better team. We have to start acting like it.”

Toronto has now defeated Brilliant three times this week.

“I could not be more proud of the guys,” Herrick said. “They stayed in the game, and they worked hard.”

Toronto defeated Coshocton Post 65, 11-6, in Friday’s tournament opener, sending the Cherokees into Saturday’s second game of the day — an elimination game against the Ohio Bruisers Cowle Post 151 (Conneaut). Jefferson County Post 33 shut out Conneaut, 4-0, in Friday’s night cap.

Toronto 1-0-0 0-0-3 2 — 6 9 3

Brilliant: 1-0-3 0-0-0 0 — 3 3 0

TORONTO (12-10): Clegg (WP, 6 1/3IP, 3R, 3H, 8K, 2BB), Torma (2/3IP, 0R, 0H, 1K, 0BB)

BRILLIANT (7-17): Swearingen (LP, CG, 6R, 9H, 1K, 2BB) and Coggins.

TWO OR MORE HITS: Toronto 2 (Berger 3, Marelli 2); Brilliant 1 (Goddard). DOUBLES: Toronto 1 (Gualtiere); Brilliant none. TRIPLES: Toronto 1 (Berger); Brilliant none. HOME RUNS: Toronto none; Brilliant none. RBIs: Toronto 6 (Berger 3, Marelli, Bodnar, Gualtiere); Brilliant (Horner).

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