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Warriors learning on the fly in ACME baseball league

Lebanon catcher Austin Howard receive a pitch close to the dirt during the Warriors' Jr. ACME game against Dayton Carroll on Monday, June 22. Contributed photo by Scott Hayes

Stringer Lebanon catcher Austin Howard receive a pitch close to the dirt during the Warriors' Jr. ACME game against Dayton Carroll on Monday, June 22. Contributed photo by Scott Hayes

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By Scott Hayes, Staff Writer Updated 10:01 PM Thursday, June 25, 2009

Lebanon’s Jr. ACME baseball team actually serves two purposes.

Besides giving a team of sophomores to be an avenue to compete in the summer, it also serves as an unofficial extended tryout for next year’s Lebanon High School baseball squad.

“Our upperclassmen play with various traveling teams in Dayton and Cincinnati so that they can get exposed to various types of coaching and tournaments,” Lebanon varsity baseball coach Lee Day said.

“Our Jr. ACME team was basically our freshman team in the spring that is now competing in a junior varsity league in the Dayton area. This gives those kids a chance to compete and gives our varsity and junior varsity coaches a chance to evaluate them over a course of a season as they are looking to earn a spot on next year’s varsity or junior varsity teams.”

The Warriors have posted a 4-8 record through Tuesday, June 23, with two games left in the regular season. This weekend, Lebanon will host the first round of the sectional tournament, with the Warriors facing Dayton Carroll at 11 a.m.

Day has been pleased with the team’s pitching.

Lebanon’s seven pitchers — Tyler Newman, Scott Ross, Matt Alexander, Ande Holland, Allen O’Connell, Josh Young and Steve Short —have combined to walk just 24 batters in 80 innings pitched.

“That’s a great ratio,” Day said. “I’m very pleased with the way we’re throwing strikes.”

On the downside, Lebanon is not fielding the balls that are in play. The Warriors are averaging 3.5 errors per game. That, combined with a team batting average of just .254 is the primary cause for Lebanon’s losing record.

“We need guys who can hit the ball consistently,” Day said. “A .254 team batting average is not up to our standards. And, three and a half errors a game is frustrating.

“That’s something that has to improve if these guys want to move on and play at the next level.”

Lebanon managed just two hits — singles by Steve Short and Austin Howard — while committing five errors in a 6-2 loss to Carroll on Monday, June 22.

On Tuesday at Northmont, the Warriors hit better (eight hits) but still committed five errors in a 5-4 loss. Tyler Newman led the attack with three hits and two doubles, while Landen Brown was 2-for-2 with an RBI.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4526 or shayes@coxohio.com.

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