Opp tops Post 80

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, June 25, 2003

A three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth gave the Opp Dixie Majors a 7-6 lead against the visiting American Legion Post 80 baseball team Wednesday night at Merchants Field.

Opp relief pitcher, and former Post 80 player, Andrew Harry went to the mound for his third inning of work in the top of the seventh to get the win. Harry got the final two outs of the game on strikeouts.

Opp went on top 3-0 in the bottom of the first inning when Josh Anderson, Adam Evans and Daniel Wall each scored. Wall had a RBI-double in the inning. Jim Bedsole had a sacrifice fly to plate Wall after he moved to third on a sac fly by Drew Mims.

Opp tacked on another run in the bottom of the second for a 4-0 lead when Jason Stanley reached on an infield single and scored on a RBI-double by Anderson.

All four runs came against Post 80 starting pitcher Will Cammack. Brad Sanders entered the game to pitch in the second and lasted into the sixth inning before giving way to Justin Bracewell.

Post 80 scored two runs in the top of the third when Michael Dutton and Trevor Mathews drew back-to-back walks with one and came around to score.

Dutton and Mathews moved to second and third on a wild pitch. A second wild pitch sent Dutton home for a run. The Opp catcher threw to the plate, but the ball got past the pitcher and Mathews raced in for the second Post 80 run.

Post 80 added four runs in the top of the fifth inning for a 6-4 lead.

Mathews, Neal Patterson, Cole Sightler and Chaz Maloy each scored in the inning. Patterson had a double over the center fielder's head in the inning. Maloy had a RBI-single in the frame. Two runs scored on bases-loaded walks to Scotty McCraney and Matthew Mitchell.

Opp went back on top with a three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning when Heath Williamson, Jim Bedsole and Harry each scored. Bedsole had a double in the inning. Langdon Stanley plated one run on a ground out. Harry reached base on a RBI-single which tied up the score at 6-6 when Bedsole scored.

Harry scored when Trevor Richburg hit a single into left field and the ball bounced over the outfielder's head and rolled to the fence. Harry raced home to score from first base and Richburg ended up at third base.

Post 80 got out of the inning with a sliding catch in center for the third out, but failed to score in the top of the seventh inning.

Post 80 is now 17-5 on the season after two consecutive losses. The Post 80 team fell to Bay County (Fla.) by a final score of 5-3 Tuesday in Troy.

The Post 80 team plays again at 4 p.m. today in Dothan.