TonganoxieMirror.com

Post 41 improved its win streak to four games with a sweep of Piper at Leavenworth County Fairgrounds on Thursday.

Tonganoxie won the first game, 3-2, when Grant Ebbert drove in the game-winning run with a single in the bottom of the seventh, before outscoring Piper, 13-8, in a five-inning affair.

Jeremy Wagner started the first half of the twinbill and struck out seven in 6 2/3 innings. Mark Stewart relieved him in the top of the seventh, recorded the final out and picked up the victory.

Tucker Hollingsworth scored the first run for Tonganoxie (4-3) in the bottom of the second. After drawing a walk, he scored on a Kyle Newton single.

Piper took the lead in the top of the third before Post 41 tied the game in the sixth, when Wagner drove in Blaize Oelschlaeger with a double.

Runs weren’t as hard to come by in the second contest. Tonganoxie scored nine times in the first two innings and never trailed.

Corey Klinkenburg got the offense started in the first with a double before scoring on a Stewart single. Oelschlaeger drove in Stewart with a single and an RBI-single from AJ Gilbert scored Oelsclaeger. Gilbert scored the team’s fourth run and Newton drove in Wagner.

After Piper plated four runs in the bottom of the first, Post 41 responded with four runs of its own in the second.

Brett Bailes led off with a walk, stole second and scored on a fielder’s choice from Klinkenburg. Then, Stewart was hit by a pitch and scored on an inside-the-park home run from Oelschlaeger. Gilbert later singled, stole second and scored.

Newton started on the mound for Tonganoxie but was relieved in the second inning by Oelschlaeger, who threw the rest of the way.

After starting the season 0-3, Post 41 coach Pat Bailey said the team is improving.

“The guys are playing pretty well right now,” Bailey said. “They’re starting to show some confidence and playing hard.”

Tonganoxie plays host to Geiger on Monday at 6 p.m.