Post 62 picks up Junior Legion win over Homer City

PUNXSUTAWNEY — The Punxsy Post 62 Junior Legion team got a solid outing from pitcher Parker Stahlman, who went 6-2/3 and allowed just two runs, and gave him plenty of help on the offensive side en route to a 7-2 victory over Homer City at Rich Kuntz Memorial Field on Thursday.

Stahlman earned the win by nearly going the distance before running into his pitch count limit. He allowed the two runs on six hits and two walks and struck out four. Lucas Mennitti retired the only hitter he faced to short to close things out.

Brody Stouffer had a pair of hits and an RBI in addition to reaching twice on errors to lead the Post 62 offense, with Mennitti adding a double, a walk and two RBIs. Punxsy tallied just six hits but made the most of them throughout the night with timely hitting.

Landan Temchulla had a hit and walked twice, and Logan Moore and Nate Kendrick each added one hit, with Moore also being hit by a pitch.

Beau Thomas and Jaden Greenblatt each picked up an RBI despite not having any hits, while Landon Neal walked twice and Stahlman did so once.

Braden Dunn tripled and singled for the Homer City offense, with Caleb Palmer doubling, singling and driving in a run. Ethan Roser had a triple and was walked once, and Reese

Wagner added an RBI double. Nash Budner was the only other baserunner courtesy of a walk.

Brayden Rado earned the start for the visitors and worked two innings, allowing three runs on three hits and three free passes. Avery Foreman pitched the final four innings and allowed four runs, only one of which was earned, on three hits and four walks while fanning three.

Punxsy drew first blood with an unearned run in the bottom of the first thanks to Stouffer reaching on a dropped fly ball in right, moving up a station on a Temchulla single, advancing to third on Stahlman’s walk and scoring on a groundout to the right side by Mennitti.

The home team added two more in the third inning, with Stouffer getting it going again with a single to left. He stole second before Temchulla walked, and moved up to third on a groundout by Stahlman.

Mennitti then walked to reload the bases, and Stouffer scored on an RBI groundout by Thomas. Temchulla also came around to score on the play, as the throw to first to try to double up Thomas got away, and Punxsy’s lead was three runs through three frames.

Homer City picked up its two runs in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit back to one run. Dunn got it started with a triple to deep center, and Wagner doubled to right-center to bring him home. Then, two hitters later, Palmer followed that act with a double of his own to rightcenter, bringing Wagner in and making it 3-2.

Punxsy added two more runs in each of the next two innings, though, to put the game away comfortably. The sixth started, once again, with Stouffer reaching on an error, and after he took second on a passed ball he scored when Temchulla reached on a throwing error. Two hitters later, Mennitti drove one to deep center for a double to plate Temchulla and make it 5-2.

In the sixth, Punxsy picked up two more runs thanks to some timely hitting. Moore opened the inning with a single up the middle, and Max Burkett laid down a sacrifice bunt to move him up. The throw was dropped at first, though, and Burkett was safe, with Moore ending up on third.

Greenblatt then grounded into a fielder’s choice to short, but it was a productive out because it brought Moore in to score, and after Greenblatt swiped second base, Stouffer singled to the left side to bring Greenblatt home and set the final at 7-2.