HURON – After a heartbreaking extra-inning loss in the first game, the Huron Junior Legion couldn’t get the bats going until it was too late in the finale of the doubleheader Thursday, dropping two games to the Aberdeen Smittys 16U club by the scores of 8-7 and 6-2 at Memorial Stadium.
In the first game, the Smittys came out early, putting up a 5-0 lead on the home nine before Huron’s bats came alive in a big way.
Huron would score all seven of its runs in the first game in the bottom of the fourth inning, as the first seven hitters of the inning reached safely.
Aberdeen would score single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to tie the game, forcing extra innings, before finally pushing across a run in the top of the ninth to take an 8-7 lead and eventually the win.
Tanner Gilbert went seven innings on the mound for Huron, allowing seven runs and striking out six.
The Huron offense managed 10 hits and 13 total baserunners, but couldn’t get another rally going after the fourth inning.
Bubba Peterson had a double and a single. Kolby Hofer had a pair of singles, was hit by a pitch, and stole a base in the game. Jackson Mattke had a pair of singles.
The Smittys struck first in the nightcap, and the Tigers simply couldn’t come back after the first blow as three first-inning runs from Aberdeen were enough in a 6-2 victory.
Bubba Peterson made the start, going two innings, allowing three runs. Eli Shreeve finished the game in relief, throwing three innings and allowing three runs, striking out three.
The Huron offense managed just five hits in the game, with Logan Leyendecker singling for two of them.
Leyendecker also stole a base. Kolten Ogle added a double.
The Junior Legion record on the season falls to 7-10. Huron travels to Lake Norden on Wednesday for a doubleheader, beginning at 5 p.m.
