The Batesville American Legion Post 271 baseball team kicked off the season at St. Leon.
It was a rough start for Post 271 as St. Leon swept the doubleheader.
Batesville lost the opener 17-4 and the second by a score of 8-5.
Post 271 scored one run in the top of the first inning, but St. Leon jumped on pitcher Matt Back in the bottom half and scored six times in the first inning.
Back made it into the second inning before being relieved by Justin Ahaus. Ahaus gave up two runs before handing the ball over to Ben Folkman. Folkman gave up six runs in one inning as St. Leon continued to pull away.
The Batesville offense was held to only three hits. BJ Sieverding, Ahaus and Joe Chaffee each hit safely, while Chris Drew scored twice. Sieverding and Chaffee also scored runs.
The second game was much closer.
Batesville took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second and held a one run lead until the bottom of the fourth.
St. Leon scored four times in the fourth inning and three in the sixth to take a 8-2 lead.
Batesville answered with three runs in the top of the seventh, but could not get any closer.
Back, Jim Moorman and Kyle Fisher led the Batesville offense with two hits apiece.
Sieverding pitched five inning for Batesville and suffered the loss. Ahaus threw one inning in relief.
