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Beverly/Lowell to play in S.C. this weekend

RON JOHNSTON The Marietta Times Beverly/Lowell catcher Logan Isner gets ready to tag Tuscarawas's Seth Johnson out at the plate during first-game action Sunday at Fort Frye.

BEVERLY — Beverly/Lowell Post 389/750 will be seeking a taste of both the Atlantic Ocean and victory this weekend.

With bags and equipment packed, the B/L American Legion baseball team headed southeast to Sumter and Florence, S.C., today (Wednesday) to compete in the sixth annual Palmetto Legion Invitational. Starting at 5 p.m. Friday, the BevLow squad is scheduled to play Pelham Alabama Post 555 of Shelby County at Riley Park in Sumter.

On Saturday, a doubleheader is on tap with Beverly/Lowell playing Wallace Post 156 of North Carolina at 4 p.m. That will be followed by a game against the host Sumter P-15’s (8-5) at 6:30 p.m. at Riley Park.

The baseball action then switches to Florence where B/L will square off against Florence Post 1 at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

Currently the owner of a 9-9 record, BevLow is hoping to halt a five-game slide.

“We’ve been in a little slump lately,” said veteran Beverly/Lowell skipper Todd Engle. “We’re playing some kids out of position, because we have some kids gone (on vacation).”

Engle said that BevLow has only had a full squad in one game this season.

“It’s summer Legion baseball, and you’ve got to learn on the run,” he added. ” Hopefully, we’ll be better for it.”

B/L is coming off 10-8 and 9-0 setbacks at the Fort Frye High ball field to Tuscarawas Post 205 (9-5) on Sunday. The preview day, it was swept by Cambridge Post 84.

Against the Panthers of Tuscarawas County, BevLow combined to make seven errors in the two games.

In Game 1, Beverly/Lowell actually had a 6-2 advantage before falling by two at the end.

“We thought we had the momentum, but that’s exactly what happen (vs. Cambridge),” Engle said. “We were up 8-2, and they came back with a 5-spot — and they’re back in the ballgame.

“A lot of times with youth and inexperience, we just don’t know when to have that killer instinct to put people away.”

At the tournament in S.C., BevLow will be without catcher Jake Davis, who is vacationing with his family in Hawaii. Davis, a Heidelberg University player, is one of the team’s top sluggers.

But maybe more important….

“We’ll miss his leadership and knowledge of the game (in S.C.),” Engle said.

Against Tuscarawas, Beverly/Lowell was also missing Trace Schafer, Tanner Neal, Bryce Hilverding, and Jerimiah Stitt.

In S.C., Engle’s ace southpaw and All-Ohio honoree Tyler Bradford is expected to toe the rubber in the first game. Going around the horn, look for Logan Isner at catcher; Riley Burns, at first base; Schafer or Kam Hesson, second base; Derek Layton or Dave Scharenberg, third base; Tate Engle, shortstop; Scharenberg or Neal, left field; Konnor Roberts or Drew Huffman, center field; Huffman, right field; and Layton or Roberts, as designated hitter.

Also on the roster are Brent West, Trent Bradford, and Luke Nelson.

Todd Engle will be assisted by Tyler Engle, Greg Huffman, and Doug Wainwright.

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