SM-Tn Sports

Scoring multiple runs in four different innings, the Columbia Post 19 Seniors extended their winning streak Tuesday night with a 12-8 victory over host Pulaski Post 60 at Sam Davis Park.

Dawson Hargrove’s two-run home run jumpstarted the visitors’ four-run fifth-inning rally that proved to be the difference in the contest, after Post 60 rallied from an early 2-0 deficit with five runs in the bottom of the first against starter Hudson Adams.

Post 19 (5-1) tied the game in the second, as Peyton Groves drove in Caden Czajka and Brett Bell followed with two of his three RBIs. A Nathaniel Huntzinger double and a Post 60 infield error contributed to three runs in the third as the visitors went ahead 8-5.

Meanwhile, the bullpen tandem of Ben Farrell, Bryson Hammons, Czajka and Huntzinger teamed to keep the hosts virtually in check the rest of the way. Hargrove’s homer, another Post 60 error and a Huntzinger RBI groundout pushed the Post 19 cushion to 12-5, before the hosts picked up three runs in their final at-bat.

Brantly Whitwell, Groves and Bell — the top three hitters in the Post 19 batting order — each had a pair of the team’s nine hits, with Whitwell and Groves scoring twice. Hargrove also scored a pair of runs, as did Max Ballard, who went hitless but did not recorded an at-bat, drawing three walks.

On the mound, Post 19 struck out 13 hitters and allowed just six hits.

Riding a four-game streak, the Columbians resume play this weekend at the Troy (Ala.) Post 70 Fathers Day Invitational. They’re scheduled to face Tupelo (Miss.) Post 49 in a 2 p.m. matchup Friday at Troy University, followed by a 4 p.m. game vs. Gauthier-Amadee (La.) and a 12 noon contest Saturday against Covington (Ga.) Post 32. The tourney concludes on Sunday.

Post 19 next plays at Columbia State’s Dave Hall Field on June 23 against Old Hickory Baseball. Game time is 6 p.m.