Post 80 sends Opelika packing

Published 12:00 am Monday, June 2, 2003

What began as a lazy Sunday afternoon of baseball turned into a dramatic evening as the American Legion Post 80 baseball team squared off against Opelika in a doubleheader at Andalusia High School's baseball diamond.

Post 80 won the first game 14-4 in six innings via the 10-run mercy rule.

Post 80 starting pitcher Tyler Wilson had full command of his pitches and baffled the Opelika batters. He gave up four runs in six innings on three hits and no walks. He did hit one batter and struck out 11.

The Post 80 hitters also had huge numbers in the first game scoring 14 runs on 24 hits and only one batter struck out against Opelika's pitching.

Post 80 went on top 1-0 in the first inning when Trevor Mathews scored, but the second inning was huge as six more runs came in for a 7-0 lead.

Post 80 remained in front the rest of the way and capped off the win with five runs in the sixth inning when Wilson, Cole Sightler, Zack Chavers, Will Cammack and Scotty McCraney each scored.

In the second game, Post 80 scored one run in the bottom of the seventh inning for a 10-9 victory.

Andrew Bryan scored the winning run after reaching base on an error by the center fielder. He scored on an error by the first baseman. Michael Dutton reached on a walk in the inning and Matthew Mitchell had a sacrifice to more Bryan to third where he was able to score on the error.

Dutton scored the first run of the game for Post 80 in the second inning for a 1-0 lead.

Opelika tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the third.

Post 80 scored five more runs in the bottom of the third for a 6-1 lead.

Opelika tied the score at 6-6 in the fifth and went on top 9-6 in the sixth.

Post 80 knotted the score at 9-9 in the bottom of the sixth when Chase Arrington, Trevor Mathews and Scotty McCraney scored. McCraney had a two-RBI triple in the inning. He scored on Wilson's fly out to right field.

Post 80 won the game in the bottom of the seventh inning when Bryan scored.

Chris Johnson started the game on the mound for Post 80 and went five innings. Brad Sanders pitched one inning and Will Cammack pitched one inning.

The Post 80 squad returns to the diamond today when Pike County comes to town for one seven inning game. The first pitch is set for 6 p.m.