Ottawa Legion A splits with Emporia

EMPORIA — The Ottawa American Legion A squad is taking steps toward improving their overall game.

Ottawa split Monday with the Emporia Gold team at Emporia’s Soden Grove.

Ottawa won the opener, 16-8, but fell in the nightcap, 9-6.

“Much more comfortable with the way we played tonight as opposed to Saturday,” Ottawa coach Brian Long said. “Hopefully we keep moving in the right direction as far as leadership on this squad.

“We still make way too many mistakes. We still miss signs, swing at bad pitches, and we lost focus at a few points. But we had some of the guys shoulder some of the leadership roles.”

Adam Fritts was the winning pitcher in the opener. Dalton Laird picked up the save in relief.

The Ottawa bats pounded 16 hits. Gene Dydell tripled for the third straight game. Evan Moore had three hits.

Long said one big defensive play came from second baseman Kolton Eckenroed.

He came off the bench and the play quieted an Emporia rally in the sixth inning.

The second game was highlighted by Fritts’ two-run inside the park home run.

Emporia’s six-run fourth inning gave the Gold squad with the momentum.

Ottawa rallied back in the sixth. Jake Huddlestun came through with a pinch-hit RBI single but was only able to add a single tally in the inning after loading the bases.

“Offensively, most of us are finding a groove,” Long said. “We’ve been trying to simplify the stroke and it appears we are squaring more balls up.”

Ryan Maxwell started and took the loss. Laird came in to relieve Maxwell.

Long said Ottawa only had one error in the nightcap.

“Laird came up huge for us on the mound in both games. He pitched real well  and got the save in the first game and then came right back in the second game and attacked the zone well.” Long said.

Ottawa did lose Andrew Fangman for the season with an injury.

Long said it is a big loss.

“He pitched well for us and had just started to really crush the ball at the plate. He’ll be able to make a full recovery and get back at it next year,” Long said.

Ottawa will play two make-up doubleheaders this week. Ottawa plays

Wednesday at Garnett and Thursday in Mound City.