NAPOLEON — Following two tough losses and preceding an extended road trip, Napoleon American Legion Post #300 was in desperate need of a win.

Landon Amstutz (Liberty Center) hit a grand slam to cap and eight-run second inning and the River Bandits cruised to an 11-2 win over Adrian, Michigan, Wednesday evening at Napoleon High School’s Booster Field.

“It’s critical in any game to get out early,” said Napoleon coach Chad Donsbach. “It puts pressure on the other team’s pitching staff, especially on a hot day like today. You get a lead and it makes it even hotter for the other guys. It changes their mindset.”

Zander Zeiter (Liberty Center) led off the second inning with a single and Owen Espinoza (Napoleon) followed with a double. Hunter Bostelman (Tinora) drove in both runners with a single for a 2-0 lead.

Griffin Cooley (Montpelier) singled to put runners on the corners for Owen Lloyd (Ayersville), who singled home a run. Cohen Stockman (Defiance) loaded the bases with a bunt single and Noah Gomez (Defiance) was hit by a pitch to make it 4-0.

Amstutz put the exclamation point on the inning with his grand slam home run.

The Bandits added a run in the fourth on an RBI single by Bostelman and Alec Schaublin (Tinora) scored Brady Borton (single) and Espinoza (walk) with a base hit in the sixth inning.

Zeiter led the offense, going 3 for 3, while Amstutz was 2 for 4 with four RBI.

Donsbach said the LC duo has been the heart of the Bandits’ offense all summer.

“Those two guys have been outstanding all year,” said Donsbach. “This is the first time since early in the year we put them back to back (in the batting order). I kind of like it.

“They are both consummate hitters,” added Donsbach. “They both go to the plate with a plan and then execute that plan.”

Bostelman was also 2 for 4 with three RBI for the River Bandits.

Not lost with all the offense was the pitching performances Cory Herman (Edgerton) and Mason McQuillin (Tinora).

Herman set down the first nine batters he faced before giving up two unearned runs in the fourth inning. He earned the win, pitching five innings and allowing three hits and two walks, while striking out three.

“Cory Herman has been outstanding all year for us,” said Donsbach. “You don’t have to throw the ball hard all the time if you can throw strikes and keep batters off balance. That is Cory Herman.”

McQuillin pitched the final two innings without allowing a hit. He walked one.

Napoleon (9-6-1) is on the road for the next 11 days — first heading to Kokomo, Indiana, for a wood bat tournament this weekend and then to Rapid City, South Dakota, for a tournament the following week.

“This was a huge win for us,” said Donsbach. “We had two tough losses, including getting walked off last night. We have amped up our schedule this year. It was good to get a win heading into a wood bat tournament, which is different than any other kind of tournament. It puts us in the right frame of mind.”