Bayne pitches Sidney to big win over Zephyrs

By JEREMY WOZNICK

Star-Herald Sports Reporter

SIDNEY - Bret Bayne struck out seven and pitched six shutout innings

to lift Sidney to a 3-1 win over the WESTCO Zephyrs in senior legion

baseball action on Wednesday night in Sidney.

Bayne didn't allow a run until the top of the seventh when the

Zephyrs' Michael Hoppes doubled and scored on a double steal. The

Zephyrs continued to threaten in the inning by loading the bases.

However, Bayne recorded a strikeout before inducing a groundout to

end the game.

"We had some opportunities with runners on base, but we just didn't

cash in on them," Zephyrs coach Mark Moran said. "It's the same thing

we've been dealing with for most of the season. We have chances, but

we just can't get that big hit when we really need it.

"Give their kid credit. He threw the ball different speeds and didn't

walk us. He really did a nice job."

The Zephyrs' Chase Wickard struck out 11 in six innings of work on

the mound. Wickard limited Sidney to just three hits.

"He pitched very well and kept us right there in the game," Moran

said of Wickard. "He deserved better."

Sidney took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Charles

Ferguson singled home Brandon Sharp-Haun. Another run in the bottom

of the second increased Sidney's lead to 2-0 before the teams had to

sit through a 30-minute weather delay.

After the delay, neither team could muster much offense as both

pitchers dominated the next three innings.

Sidney added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth before the

Zephyrs mounted their last at-bat rally in the seventh.

Six different Zephyrs had hits in the game, while three different

players totaled hits for Sidney.

The Zephyrs, now 5-15, will be back in action on Friday at the Clair

Conley Tournament in Alliance.

Zephyrs (5-15) 000 000 1 - 1 6 2

Sidney 110 001 x - 3 3 2

WP - Bret Bayne; LP - Chase Wickard (2-3).

2B - Michael Hoppes, Brian Colburn, Charles Ferguson.