By STEPHEN GLOVER

For the Call

It’s been a roller-coaster ride of a season for the Crestwood American Legion baseball team.

Post 777 (11-15, 7-11 District 10 South) ended the 2003 season last weekend with a disappointing 4-3 loss to Manchester in the district tournament. “It was disappointing to lose, but it was actually a good game,” Crestwood Head Coach Roy Tippett said. “We once again beat ourselves.”

Crestwood held a 3-2 advantage after seven innings of play. But it was an error-filled eighth inning that allowed Manches-ter to score two runs and take the lead.

“A couple of errors on our part started things off for them (Manchester) in the eighth inning,” Tippett explained.

Starting pitcher Scott Hicks went 71/3 innings and Tippett was very pleased with the thrower’s performance. Had it not been for the team’s six errors on the field, the outcome of the game could have been different.

“Scott’s done a great job all season and I wanted to give him the chance to win or lose the game,” Tippett said. “But with six errors behind you, it’s tough to win a game.”

One player enjoying a strong day at the plate was outfielder Adam Laury, who drove in two runs for Post 777. Through-out the season, Laury’s been one of the more consistent hitters on the team with a .338 batting average. He’s third on the team in runs batted in with 18 and second in doubles with eight.

“He (Laury) had a nice game,” Tippett said. “It’s hard being the designated hitter and he did a good job of watching their pitcher and making adjustments.”

Despite a losing record this season, Tip-pett believes that with about 14 players returning next season, Crestwood’s future looks quite promising. “It’s definitely been an up-and-down year and that’s frustrating,” Tippett said. “I think that with all the guys we’ll have returning along with some good players from the junior varsity squad, we’re going to be very good next year.”