Tiffin Post 169 holds off Sidney 9-6 at state tourney

LANCASTER — Carson Mellott provided both the opening and closing punches for Tiffin Post 169 on Monday afternoon, helping the Region 3 representative win its opening game at the American Legion state baseball tournament 9-6 over Sidney.The Columbian graduate delivered an RBI double in the top of the first inning for the game's first run. In the bottom of the seventh, with the tying run at the plate for Sidney, Mellott snapped off a sweet curveball for a strikeout looking to end it.With the win, Tiffin stayed in the winners bracket at the tournament and will play Beverly-Lowell at 11:30 a.m. today at Beavers Field.Margaretta graduate Ben Palomo earned the win for Tiffin on the mound, going 4.2 innings as the starter and allowing two runs.After Mellott's RBI in the first, Sidney tied the game at 1 in the bottom half. Calvert's Nick Palm seized the edge back with an RBI hit down the right-field line in the second. Palm then got in a rundown to allow Gunther Kissell (Columbian) to score for a 3-1 lead.In the third, Bellevue's Tyler Ray hit an RBI single up the middle to score Columbian's Jaden Myers for a 4-1 lead.Bellevue's Ethan Mohr helped Tiffin escape a jam out of the bullpen in the fifth when he got a flyout to strand the bases loaded and keep the lead at 4-2.Myers made it 5-2 on a sacrifice fly before Sidney Post pulled within 5-4.Bellevue's Carter LaPata, pulled a single through the right side for some insurance and a 6-4 lead. Palomo came home on a double steal for a 7-4 edge.Then in the seventh, Mellott stepped in with runners on second and third and two outs. He had been intentionally walked in his previous two at-bats, but even with first base open Sidney Post pitched to him. He ripped a single up the middle before a balk scored another run.Mellott had to come in to pitch after Sidney got two runs back in the seventh, but he shut the door.