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HARTINGTON - The Hartington Post 4 American Legion Senior baseball team increased its current winning streak to five games with three wins over the past week.
The Hartington Seniors took care of South Sioux City at Felber Park on June 29, 6-0, in the opening round of the Ralph Bishop League Tournament.
Post 4 also bettered the Tri-County Titan seniors by the same score of 6-0 on June 27 and defeated Pierce 3-0 in regular season league action by a 3-0 score.
Against South Sioux City in the league tournament, Hartington plated a run in the first inning which turned out to be all starting pitcher Breiton Whitmire would need as he tossed seven innings of one-hit baseball, walking four and striking out eight while earning the shutout.
Whitmire helped his own cause in the first frame with a line shot into left field to open the Post 4 half of the first.
He stole second base then took third on a dropped third strike by the South Sioux City catcher.
Hunter Bensen hit a ground ball to the shortstop which chased Whitmire home.
Hartington would add three runs in the fourth and a couple of insurance runs in the fifth to get to the 6-0 final score.
Grady Haberer opened the scoring in the fourth when he singled with one out then promptly stole second base.
Brady Hochstein worked a walk and Haberer swiped third. An error by the catcher on the Haberer steal sent Haberer home and advanced Hochstein to second base then he stole third on the next pitch.
Drey Puppe singled past the shortstop to score Hochstein, stole second and moved to third on a ground out and eventually stole home.
Tate Fischer singled into right field and Whitmire worked a walk but both runners were stranded on the bases, but Hartington was in control of the game by four runs.
Koby Detlefsen and Hunter Bensen scored the final two runs for Hartington in the fifth after Bensen got aboard on an error and Detlefsen was plunked by the South Sioux City pitcher.
It was a combined effort on the mound in the game against the Tri-County Titans, but the same result as Hochstein, Whitmire and Bensen worked the seven-inning contest scattering four hits and no runs while striking out eight Titan batters with Hochstein earning the win.
Post 4 again scored early, getting three runs in the first stanza on hits by Whitmire and Bensen followed by a couple of walks and a dropped third strike which added up to the three runs. Whitmire, Bensen and Detlefsen all scored in the inning.
Hartington would add a run in the fourth and put the game away with two runs in the sixth.
Bensen had a good night at the plate going 2-for-3 including a triple. Gavin Klug, Puppe, and Whitmire each had a single in the game.
Detlefsen was the story in the game with Pierce as he pitched Post 4 to the win and got the lone hit, a double, as runs and hits were hard to come by.
Detlefsen went the the full seven innings, allowing just three hits, walking one and striking out 13.
The Post 4 Seniors were set to continue play in the RBL Tournament in a game with Crofton on July 1. The North Division finals are set for July 3 with the finals on July 5.
Hartington Post 4 Seniors defeated South Sioux City Seniors 6-0.
Klug went the distance for Hartington and allowed the one hit in his six innings, walked just one and struck out nine.
Hudson Whitmire scored two of the runs for Hartington and stole four bases, Leise crossed the plate for the other run.
Lippert got the only hit for Hartington.
The Hartington 14U Ponies were set to take on the Laurel Ponies on July 1 in Hartington before the league tournament gets underway on July 7.
Hartington 14U defeated Atkinson 14U 2-0. HAR101000-240 ATK000000-020 WP: Rylan Fischer LP: G. Poesnecker S: Parker Leise.
1B: Rylan Fischer, Maddox Haberer (2), Cade Kleinschmit (H); B. Brummer, K. Ogden (A).
Hartington 14U defeated Neligh 3-0.
NEL000000-012 HAR10020X-311 WP: Grant Klug LP: Juan.
1B: Rex Lippert (H); Juan (N).
