Late surge, strong pitching from Barnes help Highland Legion topple Trenton Post 778
Some timely hitting and strong starting pitching from Mason Barnes helped the Highland Post 430 legion baseball team get back in the win column Tuesday, July 12.
Post 439 scored a pair of early runs and then parlayed a three-run sixth-inning rally into a satisfying 6-1 road victory over Trenton Post 778 at Trenton City Park.
The victory was a well-timed change of fortune for Highland (5-12) as Post 439 bounced back from a tough 10-1 loss to Aviston on Monday, July 11, with its second win over Trenton in five games this summer.
“The offense at times, we still struggle but we’re finally starting to piece together some hits and score some runs,” Highland manager Todd Kunz said. “We had some timely hitting this day and we got the RBI’s driven in.”
Highland received solid nights at the plate from Tyson Kunz, Nathan Heckman, and Ryan Heath as each collected two hits. Tyson Kunz also drove in a pair of runs.
Post 439 scored a run in the top of the first and then added a run in the top of the third to build a 2-0 lead as Tom Kunz notched an RBI groundout and Tyson Kunz ripped a run-scoring single to left field.
Trenton scored in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull within 2-1.
Post 439 answered that tally in the top of the sixth with a three-run flurry. Tommy Kunz knocked in a run with a line drive single to right. Barnes walked with the bases loaded to plate a run and Eric Potthast capped the rally with an RBI-sacrifice fly, pushing the lead to 5-1.
“(Potthast’s sacrifice fly) was one of the big moments where we’re finally, with one out, putting the ball in play — doing something positive and driving in runs rather than striking out or popping up,” Todd Kunz said. “That (sixth inning) was huge. When you’re playing on a rough infield like that, it’s hard not to be nervous with a small lead.”
Highland added an insurance run in the top of the seventh as Tyson Kunz led off with a base hit and scored on Heath’s RBI single to right which made it 6-1.
That late surge was all Barnes needed to put Post 778 away in the seventh inning.
Barnes was sharp from the jump as he threw 107 pitches in seven innings, struck out eight Trenton batters, walked one, and gave up just three hits to get the complete-game victory.
“The big story of the night was Mason Barnes,” Todd Kunz said. “Mason Barnes, he’s got really good stuff and you feel confident when he’s on the mound that things are gonna go well. He’s had two really good outings as of late and I look for him to have another good outing going into the playoffs next week.”
End of regular season, playoffs looming
Highland wraps up the regular season with a doubleheader at 6 p.m. Friday, July 15, against Troy Post 708 at Glik Park.
Kunz believes the team is beginning to come together as they head into the Fifth Division Tournament, which is set to start Monday, July 18.
“It’s finally starting to click ... they’re starting to learn the way I do things and things are starting to come together,” Kunz said.
This story was originally published July 13, 2022 at 1:28 PM.