FORT SCOTT, Kan. — Pittsburg Post 64 has a new team name (Silverbacks), a new logo, a new head coach (Zach Vance) and some new players this summer.

The Silverbacks are the defending state champions and they will host the American Legion ‘A’ State Tournament in late July at historic Jaycee Ballpark.

Post 64 scored one run in the first, seven in the second and one in the fourth to roll to a 9-0 run-rule win in five innings Thursday afternoon over Kansas Curve Mutt at the LaRoche Baseball Complex.

Post 64 played a second Fort Scott showcase game later Thursday against Kansas Curve Hindleman.

During the first game of the four-day showcase, Post 64 pitcher Grant Nickle proved to be overwhelming against his opponent. Nickle showed the form that made him an all-state pitcher his senior season at Frontenac and what attracted him to the recruiters at Coffeyville Community College.

“Yeah, he’s picking up right where he left off during his high school season,” Vance said. “I think he had 12 strikeouts and 80 pitches in five innings. So, very efficient locating his stuff, as well.”

In the big inning, Post 64 benefited from Lane Stultz’s two-run single, Rylan Carty’s RBI triple, Jake Wegner’s RBI single and RBI groundouts from Max Busch and Jett Burgess.

Carty, a Louisburg graduate who just completed his freshman season at NAIA school McPherson along with Burgess, tripled his first two at-bats and produced an RBI single in his third and last at-bat.

Wegner opened the scoring when his single brought home Carry after his first triple.

“The bats were hot,” Vance said. “Guys are seeing the ball and doing the small things, runners on second and third and putting the ball in play and advancing and scoring. We played a pretty good game today.”

Post 64 held tryouts only two days before opening the season Tuesday against Iola Post 15 at Jaycee.

“We’ve had two practices and now, we’re on our third game already,” Vance said. “More games than practices. They look like they’ve been playing for a while together now, so pretty happy about how they’re playing with each other.”

Post 64 also plays Sunday at Lions Field on the campus of Fort Scott Community College. The Silverbacks play Kansas Curve Baca at 9 a.m. and Kansas Curve Rosewood at 1:30 p.m.

POST 64 SWEEPS IOLA TO START SEASON

The Silverbacks defeated their rival to the north 12-4 and 3-0.

In the 12-4 victory, Keagan Nash was the winning pitcher and he allowed no runs on one hit with two strikeouts and no walks over two innings. Grant Nickle, Gabe Brown, Carsen Nickelson and Christian Krogen also pitched for the Silverbacks.

The Silverbacks blew wide open the opener with eight runs in the third. Alex Hinspeter and Jake Wegner delivered two-run hits (Hinspeter double, Wegner single) and Rylan Carty, Nash and Lane Stultz each hit RBI singles. Max Busch added a sacrifice fly.

Wegner and Carty each finished with two hits and Nickelson, Wegner and Hinspeter each collected two RBI. Brady Sloan and Krogen each worked a pair of walks.

This sports reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/fund/support-local-journalism-project-fund