Post 80 blasts Foley, 17-11
Published 12:00 am Friday, July 19, 2002
The Post 80 American Legion baseball team from Andalusia scored 17 runs Thursday night against Foley in the District Tournament being played at LBW Junior College's Foshee Field. The 17 runs were enough for a 17-11 win.
Foley, however, jumped out to an early lead scoring four runs in the top of the first inning.
Post 80 rallied for two runs in the bottom of the first when Michael Couch drew a lead-off walk and advanced to third on an RBI-double by Trevor Matthews. Matthews ripped a pitch to deep center field. Foley center fielder Mitchell Harrison misjudged the ball and broke in only to have to retreat as the ball sailed over his head for a double.
Couch scored later in the inning on a passed ball which also allowed Matthews to move to third. Matthews then scored on a wild pitch. Foley got out of the inning with a 4-2 lead.
Post 80 starting pitcher Tyler Wilson settled down in the second inning after a rough first inning. He retired the side in the second after giving up a lead-off walk.
Post 80's offense struck for five runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 7-4 lead.
Robby Evans started the inning with a double. Cole Sightler kept the inning going when he reached on a an error when the second baseman dropped a pop-up. Michael Dutton followed with a bunt single to load the bases.
Michael Couch then reached on an error by the Foley shortstop which allowed Evans to score. Trevor Matthews was the next batter for Post 80 and he blooped a Texas leaguer over the Foley second basemen for a two-RBI hit. After the bloop single, the Foley players gathered at the mound for a meeting without calling for a timeout and Coach raced to third.
Andrew Bryan then reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Couch to score. Neal Patterson sent the final run of the inning across the plate when he hit a sacrifice fly to right field that plated Matthews.
Foley got out of the inning and mounted a rally in the top of the third scoring two runs on two walks and a hit.
Post 80 Head Coach Steve Helms brought in relief pitcher Robbie Evans to replace starter Tyler Wilson. Wilson pitched 2 2/3 innings allowing six runs on two hits, seven walks and two errors. He struck out four.
Evans came in and retired the first batter he faced with a strikeout to end Foley's rally.
In the bottom of the third, Post 80 scored six runs for a 13-6 lead. Cole Sightler started the inning by drawing a walk. The next batter popped up a bunt to the pitcher for an out.
Couch, however, kept the inning going with an RBI-double. Couch went to third on a throw to the plate. Matthews followed Couch with an RBI-single and then stole second. The next batter went down swinging for the second out of the inning.
Post 80 continued its attack. Patterson reached on an error by the second baseman. Then, Andrew Harry drew a walk and Jacob McCullough reached on a single.
Sightler, Couch, Matthews, Patterson, Harry and McCullough all scored in the inning as they took advantage of several errors. Evans also helped with an RBI-single in the inning.
In the top of the fourth inning, Foley scored one run when David Rupple rounded the bases after reaching on a single.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Post 80 scored two run for a 15-7 lead when Dutton and Couch scored. Matthews had an RBI-single in the inning.
In the top of the fifth inning, Tim Long scored a run and Rupple scored his third run of the game for Foley to make the score 15-9.
Post 80 did not score in the fifth inning and Foley's Jeff Lee rounded the bases in the top of the sixth to cut Post 80's lead to 15-10.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Post 80 scored two runs when Couch and Bryan scored. Harry had an RBI-single in the inning.
Foley attempted a last-inning rally in the top of the seventh but came up short scoring just one run when Lee Huggins reached on an error and rounded the bases.
Evans was the winning pitcher going 4 1/3 innings. He allowed four runs on six hits and two walks. He struck out four.
The tournament continued Friday with Foley facing Brewton in a rematch and an elimination game at 5 p.m. The Andalusia Post 80 squad played Enterprise in the late game.
The tournament continues today with games at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
The 7:30 p.m. game is the District Tournament Championship Game if the team from the winner's bracket wins. If the team out of the loser's bracket wins the 6 p.m. game Saturday then the championship game will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday.