STILLWATER, Okla. — The Stillwater Legionnaires, who aren’t playing with a full deck, hope to put a good showing against Three Rivers and Joplin, Mo. Saturday in Three Rivers.
“Three Rivers is one of the best Legion teams in the state,” coach Scott Baugh said. “It will be good competition. Hopefully we show up, play hard and have a good ball game.”
The Legionnaires are still without starting shortstop Brady Baugh and starting first baseman Hayden Seifert. Baugh, from Hennessey, is recovering from mononucleosis, missing the last five games.
“He’s getting better,” the coach said. “We’re going to still keep him out longer but he’s getting around better.”
Seifert, from Guthrie, injured his knee against Edmond Memorial on July 5 and has also missed the last five games.
“Seifert is going through physical therapy,” Baugh said. “He probably won’t play Saturday.”
Stillwater graduate Dalton Dowling has played in place of Baugh. Blaze Hastings of Guthrie, is replacing Seifert. The Legionnaires hope to snap a two-game losing streak Saturday. On Wednesday, the Legionnaires were swept in a doubleheader (5-3 and 14-9) against Okmulgee. The two teams split a doubleheader in June. The games were the first for Baugh to coach since the July 5 game against Edmond Memorial. Baugh said he saw some bright spots.
“Edward Layton hit the ball well with two home runs in the second game,” Baugh said. “We didn’t win and are disappointed in that. We kept playing hard.”
Stillwater is 1-5 since the Brad Holt Memorial Tournament earlier this month, with all five losses away from Stillwater. The Legionnaires’ only victory was 13-1 over Brassfield on Monday. Three Rivers competed in the tournament but was in the pool opposite of Stillwater. The Legionnaires lost to Three Rivers 6-2 on June 9 in Stillwater. Baugh said he is looking forward to seeing what Joplin has.
“I’m excited,” Baugh said. “I don’t know what to expect. It’s the same for them. They don’t know what to expect either. Hopefully, it will be a good ball game.”
Baugh said he doesn’t know for sure who will take the mound but has plenty of arms available.
“(Nathan) Melton pitched well the other day but is a little sore,” Baugh said. “We had to sit him out in the second game (vs. Okmulgee). We will have to see when we get to the field Saturday. We will see how Jared Bartmann is. Dalton Dowling hasn’t pitched in awhile, so he should be available. We should have plenty of pitching to get us through both games on Saturday.”
