HURON – A pair of big innings led to a doubleheader sweep for the Mount Vernon/Plankinton/Corsica/Stickney Padres over Huron Post 7 in the season-opening matchup Friday at Memorial Field.
A 3-run first inning for the Padres doomed Huron in a 3-1 loss in the opener.
The Padres scored three runs in the first inning without registering a hit, opening the inning with an error, then drawing four straight walks before Huron got its first out.
Layne Wenzel opened the game for Huron, tossing six innings, pitching nearly perfect after the first inning, allowing three runs, one earned, on one hit and four walks while striking out nine. Jack Pederson pitched a scoreless inning to close the game, allowing a hit and striking out a pair of Padre hitters.
Wenzel was the leading hitter for Post 7, with a pair of singles and a stolen base. Mason Davis walked three times and stole a base. Tanner Gilbert also stole a base.
The Tigers took a 4-2 lead into the sixth inning in the nightcap, but the Padres pushed five runs across in the sixth and added another in the seventh to claim an 8-4 victory.
Mason Davis started for Post 7, with five strong innings, but not able to get an out in the sixth when most of the damage was done. His final line was five innings with seven runs allowed on 11 hits and one walk, striking out five.
Bubba Peterson tossed the final two innings, allowing one run on two hits, striking out two.
Peterson had a strong game on the bases, stealing four bases in the game. Logan Leyendecker and Trace Wenz each had a pair of singles and a walk.
Tanner Gilbert had a pair of steals, and Leyendecker added one stolen base.
Post 7 had a game scheduled on May 30, but it has been postponed.
The Tigers will next be in action June 1-4 at the Veteran’s Classic in Rapid City.
