TILTON — Post 210 manager Brent Hart has his fair share of catch phrases.
One of his favorites is calling one of his players a ‘dog’ when they just simply just refuse to lose.
On Friday night, left-hander Caden Keleminic was the ‘Dog of the Game’ as he struck out 13 to lead the Danville Post 210 Speakers to a 3-2 victory against Shelby County Stewardson in the Fourth Division Tournament at Gruber Park.
“He was on tonight,” Hart said. “Thirteen strikeouts speaks for itself.
“It’s probably the best we’ve seen him all year and he’s been pretty good all summer. Couldn’t ask for a better start.”
And honestly, the Speakers needed his performance as Stewardson pitcher Kaden Koeberlein seemingly matched Keleminic pitch-for-pitch over the first five innings.
“I thought I was pretty good for most of it,” said Keleminic who threw 107 pitches — 68 for strikes. “I think I was better than I have been all summer. My velocity was up and my curve ball was moving a lot.
“I did my part in blowing it by them.”
The only runs Keleminic allowed came in the sixth after he walked Carter Chaney and hit Tyler Wetherell on back-to-back at-bats. They would both score on a single to right by Nathan Trimble, tying the game at 2-2.
“I was able to keep my composure,” said Keleminic, who was not only frustrated with the two runs scoring but some chirping the two teams were exchanging during the game. “I had to stay calm, throw strikes and get ahead in the count.
“At the end, it got a little heated but my guys had my back.”
The tie game didn’t last long.
Post 210 third baseman Jaydon Riggs quickly turned things around in the bottom of the sixth a solo blast down the left-field line giving the Speakers a 3-2 lead.
“It’s postseason time and we have guys that like to shine in the postseason,” Hart said. “I’m really happy that Jaydon could do that for us today.
“He’s a guy that I know a lot of people don’t know, but he is always working on his game. He is either lifting, hitting or running to make himself better.”
Keleminic was able to get the first two outs in the seventh, but his bid for a complete game was halted when he walked Colten Bridges. His pitch count had exceeded Legion rules and he was forced to leave the game.
Jameson Remole needed only three pitches to strike out Oliver Wascher and secure the save for the Speakers.
“It was frustrating, but I have to deal with it,” Keleminic said. “I knew that Jameson had my back.”
And Hart admitted it was good to get Remole on the mound for that final out.
“That’s not an easy spot,” he said. “One-run game and the tying run is on base, but he came in and blew three pitches by the kid. That’s great postseason experience.”
While the home run by Riggs is ultimately the difference in the game, Hart noted that his team played an error-less game while Stewardson committed four errors that led to two unearned runs for Post 210.
“This time of year, every run counts and everything is going to be close,” he said. “Stewardson has some good arms down there and I’m glad that we found a way to win.”
Shelby County Stewardson will play Rantoul, a 11-6 winner over Watseka, at 1 p.m. on Saturday in an elimination game. The winner advances to play Post 210 in the championship game of the double-elimination tournament at 3 p.m.
At Gruber Park, Tilton
Danville Post 210 Speakers 3, Shelby County Stewardson 2
Stewardson `000 `002 `0 `— `2 `3 `4
Post 210 `011 `001 `x `— `3 `5 `0
WP — Caden Keleminic. LP — Kaden Koeberlein. Save — Jameson Remole. Two or more hits — Post 210: Ryker Small 2. HR — Jaydon Riggs. RBIs — Stewardson: Nathan Trimble 2. Post 210: Riggs, Jordan Johnson.
Record — Danville Post 210 Speakers 27-13 overall.