HANCOCK - The Hancock Post 186 American Legion baseball team dominated Negaunee to the tune of 16-0 and 18-3 victories Monday and the sweep came as a product of what has spurred Hancock on all season - their extreme depth.
All 12 available Hancock players collected at least one hit in the doubleheader and all reached base safely in the second game. Hancock totaled 28 hits and saw No. 3 hitter Tyler LaDuron wear out the left field fence with two doubles and a triple, plus a walk and two singles for a 6 RBI day.
And of course, all of this was done in nine innings worth of at-bats due to mercy-rule restrictions.
"We do have a couple of big sticks, as Tyler showed today," manager Nels Paul said. "He is a very strong hitter. But even without Tyler or Luke (Paul) we would have no problem scoring runs. I could probably slot the guys anywhere in the lineup and we would be OK."
And the pitching depth - often a problem in short-roster Legion ball - might be even stronger.
Kris Turunen started the opening game, pitched five shutout innings and struck out 11. Then the combination of starter Zach Hill and Brett Beauchamp limited Negaunee to four hits on the back end with Beauchamp seeing his first action of the season.
The pair of wins moves Hancock to 11-3 in league play, tied for first place with Marquette in the North Division.