The Aviston Express ends regular season at 18-2-1 entering postseason play

Postseason time — Aviston shortstop Rowdy Sussenbach sends a throw to first base in the Express’ 4-3 win over the CCL All Stars on Tuesday. Sussenbach enters the postseason with a .418 batting average.    The Aviston Express senior squad got just one game played with Mother Nature taking care of the rest of the regular-season schedule.
    The Express took down the Clinton County League All Stars on Tuesday, to run their record to 18-2-1 on the season with their last loss on June 14.
    That’s a winner — Aviston righty Ethan Wheelan sends in a pitch in the first inning of the Express’ 4-3 win over the CCL All Stars on Tuesday at The Hill. Wheelan tossed three innings of work with two earned runs.Post 1239 will open postseason play in the 5th Division Tournament on Thursday in Steeleville.  Aviston will host the State Tournament starting on Wednesday, July 22.
    Aviston 4, CCL All Stars 3 (9 innings):  The Express picked up a quality win on Tuesday in Aviston.
    Both teams had eight hits in a game where the Express never trailed after the top of the first inning, with Aviston having the game’s lone fielding error.
    Five Aviston pitchers combined to keep the All Stars’ bats silent while Ethan Wheelan earned the victory with three innings of work where he allowed two earned runs on five hits, no walks and no strikeouts.
    Brady Ceto pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn the save.
    Gerry Haake was saddled with the loss, allowing three earned runs on two hits, four walks and five punch outs.  Troy Schroeder and Austin Rakers pitched well in relief for the All Stars.
    Bryce Wieter was strong all-around with two shutout innings of work, three singles, one walk and one RBI, while playing four positions on defense.
    Max Albers had two singles while playing all three outfield positions.  Benny Lehman walked twice, stole two bases, scored a run and threw a shutout inning of relief.
    At the fence — Aviston first baseman Drake Curry makes a strong defensive play in foul territory in Tuesday’s 4-3 win over the CCL All Stars. PHOTOS BY JEREMY CHAWGOAustin Rakers, Gabe Schlimme and Brock Hill each had two hits for the All Stars with Schlimme hitting a homer in the top of the first inning.  Rakers added two stolen bases.
    Wheelan gave up a homer to Schlimme in the top of the first inning before his teammates took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning.
    Haake walked Lehman and Miles Browne to start the first inning before Lehman stole home and Wieter singled in Browne for a 2-1 cushion.
    The All Stars got an unearned run in the top of the second inning when Kade Kramer singled and scored on an error later in the frame for a 2-2 contest.
    Aviston regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Drake Curry walked and later scored on a ground out from Craig Schroeder.
    They got one more run in the fifth inning when Albers singled and Landon Toennies was hit by a pitch.  Carter Spaeth singled in Albers for a 4-2 lead.
    The All Stars got the lead cut in half in the seventh inning when Lucas Deimeke drew a two-out walk and later scored on a Hayden Melone single for a 4-3 deficit.
    That was all the offense for the contest as the Express won game number 18.