ALWS Day 2: Indiana finds a way again

One day after falling behind 3-0 in the first inning, Rockport, Ind., Post 254 found itself hitless through the first four innings of Friday’s game with Kennewick, Wash., Post 34. And like its previous game, Rockport found a way to win.

Two key hits in the fifth inning spurred a four-run rally and sent Post 254 on the way to a 5-3 win. Rockport takes a 2-0 record into the weekend.

“All year … no matter how the game goes we find a way to come together as a team and get it done just like we did tonight,” said Rockport third baseman Trever Zink, who had a two-run double in the fifth inning. “It’s a dream come true. No one expects to come to the World Series, but we knew it from the get-go and here were are, playing for our dream.”

Despite being hitless at the time, Rockport still managed to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second against Kennewick (54-16 overall, 0-2 in pool play). Jakob Shuler and Sammy Rowan reached base on eight consecutive pitches and moved up a base on a wild pitch. Hunter Rowe then grounded out to second, bringing home Shuler.

Three innings later, Rowe and Caleb Helms walked to start the inning; after a strikeout, Kobe Stephens also walked to load the bases.

Getting his team’s first hit of the game, Zink then softly lined the ball down the left-field line for a double, bringing home Rowe and Helms. Shuler follow with a single up the middle that brought home Stephens and Zink, upping the Indiana lead to 5-0.

“I was just really relieved,” Zink said of his hit. “In the first game I hit it right at (the defense) every time. It just felt great to get one to drop and push runs across.”

Post 254 pitcher Jesse Stallings (3-0) held Kennewick scoreless until the bottom of the ninth, when he gave up two singles and a walk to load the bases and was relieved by Corey Ebelhar.

A wild pitch led to one run, and Blake Loftus followed with a two-run single that closed the gap to 5-3. But Ebelhar was able to coax a grounder from the next batter to produce a double play, and two batters later got a fly ball to center field to end the game.