Sports

One Run Enough for Post 180 Win over Post 1995

Jack Anzilotti RBI gives Vienna Post 180 a 1-0 win Tuesday

Despite tallying just one hit against Centreville Post 1995's seven, the Vienna Post 180 baseball squad used small ball in the fourth inning to pull ahead 1-0 before a storm ended the game in the top of the seventh Tuesday.

Pitcher Daniel Bayer improved his record to 5-0 as he held Post 1995 scoreless and struck out seven over the 6 2/3 innings played. Though Bayer allowed four leadoff batters to single, he and the Post 180 defense — who made Post 1995 pay for at least four base running blunders — prevented them from reaching past second base.

"Today Bayer wasn't on the top of his game, but he fought through everything. He kept making the right pitches to put balls in play," Coach Frank Werman said. "He really buckles down really well. He's a competitor. Even when he didn't have his best stuff, he competed really hard."

Find out what's happening in Oaktonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Post 180 knocked in the game-winner in the fourth inning, which started with shortstop Justin Padgett reaching on an error to put him at second base with no outs. Chris Hanson (.319 BA) followed with a bunt to give Post 180 its only hit of the game, and Jack Anzilotti (.392) notched the RBI with a sacrifice bunt to score Padgett.

The sequence was vintage Post 180, with Werman a constant proponent of small ball with his American Legion Baseball teams each summer.

Find out what's happening in Oaktonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"We used a safety squeeze to get that runner in, and I really like that play. It's one of our staples. We needed a run to get the lead, and that's the way you do it," Werman said. "[In the beginning of the season] the kids don't like small ball. They want to hit. That's the thing about travel, it's showcase baseball where everyone wants to hit. To me it's about team. It's about everyone contributing. ... Now that the guys have done it, they see that it wins games."

The 17th District's first place squad will play six games in six days in the final week of the regular season, starting with a doubleheader against No. 5 Falls Church Post 130 at 7 p.m. Thursday at Oakton High.

The rigorous schedule to end the season does not concern Werman not only because he knows other squads are doing the same, but because he knows he has the arms to carry them through.

"We have plenty of arms to throw, and even our second-tier guys are good pitchers, so we'll be fine," Werman said. "Our starting nine is going pretty well, so we have that going for us, too."

Post 180, so far in prime position to be one of the top six teams to make the cut for playoffs, will wrap up the regular season Tuesday.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Oakton