Kligman Shines but Legends Swept by Potters
Written By: Jacob Siegel
The longest Legends start of the year heading into the weekend was Ari Kligman, who threw 2 innings on Thursday. Mickey Radanovich bested that on Friday night in Lincoln, throwing 3 solid innings. However, when the team needed some length from their starter on Sunday to close out a three game set against the Lincoln Potters, Kligman came through. He threw 6 innings of 1 run ball, and the sole run was unearned in the bottom of the first. 52 of his 81 pitches went for strikes, including 4 strikeouts while only surrendering 3 hits.
The Legends headed into the non-league series with the Potters 2-0, winning 8-6 on Tuesday and 12-6 on Thursday. Cooper Winton scored Ryan Farr with a fielder’s choice in the 2nd inning on Friday night to give the Legends the lead. However, walks and a big homer from the Potters’ Aidan Isola gave the Potters a 6-1 lead after the 4th, a lead they would hold throughout. The Legends brought it back to within two by the 7th inning stretch, highlighted by a double from Alex Tolbert and the first home run of the season from Josh Quinn, a rocket to left field.
However, the Potters would expand their lead with 9 runs in the bottom of the 7th, a rally ignited with more walks and a homer from Ben Romano. Although Danny Peters drove in two runs in the top of the 8th, the Legends dropped game 1 of the series 16-6.
Saturday night the Legends started hot, with a Noah Zertuche single scoring Winton after his double in the top of the first. In the bottom of the first, the Potters’ station to station offense, with walks and singles, put the Legends in a 6-1 hole. After Peters gave the Legends 4 much needed innings out of the bullpen to help save some arms, the Legends gave up 5 runs in the bottom of the 5th, including two Potters doubles.
Despite entering the 8th down 15-3, the Legends showed great fight by putting up 5 to cut into the lead. Walks and hit by pitches started the rally for the Legends, which was capped by an RBI single from Jacob Froess and a sacrifice fly from Collin O’Driscoll. The game ended 15-8, giving the Potters the series win.
Despite Kligman’s great start on Sunday, he left the game with the Legends down 1-0. However, off of a Rowan Felsch single and steal followed by another RBI single from Jacob Froess, the Legends tied the game at 1. Despite that, a three run homer from Jeric Curtis of the Potters in the bottom of the inning gave the Potters a 4-1 lead. After the homer, Zak Sullivan finished out the inning strong before Malcolm Hsu pitched a clean 8th. In the top of the 8th the Legends had a rally going, including Ryan Farr scoring pinch runner Aman Khera, although Noah Zertuche’s hard line drive up the middle resulted in an unlucky inning ending double play. The Legends ended up losing 4-2.
After the sweep, the Legends dropped to 2-3, with a 2-0 record in league. The Legends head on the road again this week, facing the Bay Area Bombers on Tuesday at Ygnacio Valley High School then the Vacaville Admirals at Will C Wood High School on Wednesday. They close out the road trip on Thursday and Friday against the San Luis Obispo Blues at Sinsheimer Park.
Stars of the Weekend:
⭐ Ari Kligman: 6 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 4 K
⭐️⭐️ Jacob Froess: 5-9, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 SB
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Josh Quinn: 3-12, 1 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 2 SB
