Solid pitching and timely hitting was the formula for success for the South Sioux City American Legion Post 307 Juniors in a pair of victories last week.
On Wednesday, Charlie Aitken was masterful on the mound, striking out 16 Arlington batters and scattering three hits to help the Post 307 Juniors to a 5-1 win at Voss Field.
Arlington got on the board early in the top of the first inning, but that was about all they could muster as Aitken took over on the mound from there, not allowing a hit after the visitors used three to get on the board.
South Sioux took the lead for good in the bottom of the first, using two of Arlington’s nine errors to score a pair of runs.
RBI singles by Jace Noteboom and Ezra Klein helped SSC double the lead in the third, and they added their final run in the sixth when Axton Davis singled, scoring Max Rogge.
It was all on Aitken’s arm after the first inning, as only four baserunners reached in the final six innings, three coming on being hit by a pitch. He struck out 16, walked none and allowed three hits over 97 pitches.
Offensively, Rogge and Kam Munoz both scored twice and Davis, Noteboom and Klein all had RBI singles to highlight a five-hit evening.
The Juniors improved to 7-4 on the season with a 12-1 blowout win over Tekamah-Herman at home Monday.
The Post 307 squad did most of their damage in the first frame, sending 15 batters to the plate and striking for eight hits and 10 runs. Brody Barnett had a double to get the rally started and Aitken had two RBI singles in the inning to highlight the explosion.
SSC added two more runs in the third, thanks to an error and a fielder’s choice, and that was more than enough as they dismissed their guests in five innings on the mercy rule.
Aitken had two hits, three RBI’s and scored three times in the win. Brady O’Dell had two hits and scored three runs and Paxtyn Wagner added a pair of hits with a run and an RBI. Barnett scored twice and Davis, Brayson Bergh and Chayton Anderson all scored runs.
Will Rohde got the win with four solid innings of work, striking out six and walking two while allowing three hits before Cael Krueger finished in relief with two strikeouts.
