TERRE HAUTE — It wasn’t the way Don Spall wanted to go out. But, then again, it was hard for the Post 6 baseball skipper to be upset, considering the fact that his squad put together its best performance in nearly a decade this season.
In Spall’s final game as manager, Post 6 was issued a 15-2 walloping by host Post 346 in the championship game of the American Legion regional here Monday. Post 346 punched its ticket to the Legion state finals, which are set to get under way this weekend in Plymouth.
Kokomo beat Terre Haute (36-5) 8-6 Saturday to put itself in the driver’s seat in this tournament. The Sixers (24-12) were one win away from their first regional crown since 2001, but suffered back-to-back losses to Post 346 to be sent packing. Kokomo is one of only two teams from Indiana to have beaten Terre Haute this season. Post 6 was the only team in the regional to score runs on Post 346, which shut out both Crawfordsville Post 72 and Lafayette Post 11 in its other games.
“I can’t say that I’m disappointed — we’ve had a great season,” a stoic Spall said, sitting in the dugout of Terre Haute North High School’s Patriot Field following his final game in Post 6 pinstripes. “Losing the likes of Jake Gorski, Dalton Tinsley, Michael Moreno, Dylan Green, Devin Schacht, Joel Hoover, Colton Summers, Josh Copp, Tyler Simmons — kids like that come around only every couple years, and it’s been such a grand pleasure for them to welcome me into their family and play baseball.”
Things fell apart early for the Sixers. Colton Summers drew the start on the hill, less than 72 hours after hurling 160 pitches in a 10-inning effort Friday. He retired Terre Haute in the first in four batters, but surrendered a two-run homer to Dougie Collett two batters into the second frame, and quickly got the hook from Spall. Post 346 would go on to batter the Sixer pitching staff, and held a 9-0 lead through two before scoring 15 runs on the day on 16 hits and four Post 6 errors.
Post 6 used five pitchers in all, four of which were pitching on three-days rest or less.
“Colton was sore to say the least, but it shows what kind of character that Colton has. He wanted the ball,” Spall said. “He did well in the first, but as soon as the second started, [Summers’] pitches went up and up. My gameplan was to throw five or six pitchers, and not let them get an eye on anybody. When you have some of your pitchers playing in the field, you can’t get them warmed up.
“I had a good gameplan. I think it would’ve been stronger if we wouldn’t have gotten rained out Saturday night. I think Terre Haute has a great shot of making it to the [American Legion] world series. I don’t see anyone beating them up at Plymouth in the state [finals].”
Schacht had an RBI single for Post 6 in the fourth, and Clay O’Neal had an RBI base hit in the seventh to round out the offensive highlights for the Sixers, who were held to five hits.
Joel Hoover smacked a double in the third, while Michael Moreno (fourth inning) and Damon Reel (seventh inning) both added singles for Post 6.
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