From staff reports

sports@joplinglobe.com

MINOT, N.D. — Tyler Bennett made it an auspicious beginning for the Pittsburg Post 64 American Legion baseball team on Thursday in the Central Plains Regional.

But the leadoff home run by Bennett turned out to be one of the few highlights for Post 64.

Dubuque (Iowa) County handed Pittsburg an 11-1 loss at Corbett Field.

Dubuque scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to prematurely halt the game.

“It wasn’t our normal performance,” Post 64 manager Mike Watt said. “We didn’t give our pitching support on offense or defense.

“Brandon (Spear) and Shane (Drenick) actually gave us an opportunity to win,” Watt said. “But we had several unearned runs.

“We dropped pop flies. We had running mistakes. We couldn’t come up with the big hit, either, in getting just five,” Watt said. “It just wasn’t a good day.”

The Iowans spiced their victory by swatting three homers — second baseman Nathan Meyer, third baseman Tanner Meyer and left fielder Nathan Ramler.

Ramler finished 4-for-4 with two runs batted in. Nathan Meyer had three hits, three runs scored and as many RBI.

Bennett also doubled in the contest for Pittsburg. Michael Hayes added a double and single and Adam McCormick had a single.

Pittsburg (29-11) will play the loser of Thursday night’s game between Missouri champion Blue Springs Rod’s Sports Athletics and host Minot Vistas at about noon today in the losers’ bracket.

Drew Beasley, a right-hander, is the probable starting pitcher for Post 64, Watt said.