By
John Harvey
 |
| Solomon McCray (center) tripled and scored for Post 39. |
PURCEVILLE
– Williamsburg Post 39’s baseball team
lost its first game of the season Tuesday morning in the opening game of the
American Legion Virginia State tournament held at Fireman’s Field.
Drew
Mikula had three hits, including a three-run homer, and drove in four runs to
lead Stafford Post 290 Nationals to an 11-2 victory.
"We just didn't get it done," said coach Thomas Richardson. "They beat us in all three phases."
"We just didn't get it done," said coach Thomas Richardson. "They beat us in all three phases."
In
a showdown of two of the hottest teams in the tournament, Stafford (14-7-1) was
too strong at the plate and on the hill. Justin Thomas had three hits and drove
in two runs. He was also dominant on the mound with 14 strikeouts in seven
innings of work.
“Baseball is a game of failure we failed today,” said
Tyler Klinedinst. “The team is focused and looking to bounce back tomorrow.”
Post
290 Nationals opened the scoring in the first with a two-out rally. David
Edwards doubled to center off Williamsburg Post 39 starter Matt Smith to score
Cole Miglorini for a 1-0 lead.
Williamsburg
(19-1) responded with two runs in bottom of the inning. Tyler Klinedinst
singled with one out and scored on Solomon McCray’s triple down the left-field
line. Mikey Anderton followed with another base hit to left to score McCray and
give Post 39 a 2-1 advantage.
Stafford
answered with two runs in its next at bat. Josh Beacon doubled to score Tom
Pellegrino and tie the game. Beacon scored one batter later on a throwing-error
for a 3-2 lead.
The
game remained close until the fifth. Miglorini reached on a two-base error to
lead off the inning and Drew Edwards walked to start the rally. Mikula, a
Roanoke College product, followed with
homer to left field to clear the bases and extend the lead to 6-2.
“We came out and we were hanging with them or vice versa,
but towards the middle inning and the wheels feel off when the catcher hit a three-run
homer,” McCray said.”
Stafford
added two runs in the sixth inning and added three more in the seventh to put
the game out of reach.
Williamsburg’s
offense mustered 10 hits, but, unlike they did
during the regular season, they were unable to come up with the big hit
with runners on base. Thomas pitched out of jams in three innings, including a
bases-loaded, no-out situation in the seventh inning. Post 39 committed four
errors and the pitchers combined to hit four batters.
“It
wasn’t that he was overpowering,” McCray said. “He had good control of three pitches,
which is much harder to hit than someone throwing 90 (miles-per-hour).”
Closer
Ryan Jones struck out one in two shutout innings of relief to seal the win for
Stafford. Miglorini, the team’s Most Valuable Player from the District 16
tournament, had three hits with four runs scored. Beach had three hits with an
RBI and a run.
Klinedinst
had three hits and scored a run to lead Williamsburg Post 39. McCray and
Anerton each had a hit and drove in a run.
Smith
(5-1) allowed four earned runs on seven hits and struck out four in five
innings. Kent Klyman and Michael Brumfield combined for 2 1/3 innings of
scoreless relief.
Williamsburg
Post 39 will play the loser of Albemarle Post 74 and Vienna Post 180 on Wednesday in an elimination game.
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