Story and Photosby Mike MaddockMike@TheColumbiaStar.com

Hunter Bartlett bats for Columbia N/E, while Beamer Carr catches for Richland. Bartlett narrowly missed a grand slam in the bottom of the fifth inning bouncing a shot off the fence in left- center field. He settled for a double. Carr had a couple of singles and a double for Richland. Coach Ray Derrick's Richland Post 6 team wrapped up the American Legion League 8 championship prior to its match- up with Columbia Northeast Post 182 at Richland Northeast High School Wednesday, July 5, 2006. The atmosphere was a little more relaxed than it was when the two teams met just a few days earlier. That day Will Lewis went six for seven with a home run for Richland. This day, Will Lewis got a rest, and so did several other regular Richland starters.

The result was an offensive explosion from Columbia Northeast and a little revenge for Coach Thane Maness' squad.

Columbia Northeast scored six runs in the second inning, one in the fourth, and eight in the fifth to go up 15-7. Northeast bats added five more in the sixth and seventh innings, and eventually earned a 20-13 victory over Richland, who had beaten them 22-1 a few days earlier.

Beamer Carr rounds third base for Richland and heads for home. Columbia Northeast was led by Justin Bouknight, Jake Mendiola, Hunter Bartlett, and David Greene, each of whom got at least two hits. Bartlett narrowly missed a grand slam home run in the bottom of the fifth inning driving a pitch off the left-center field fence. He settled for a double driving in two of Columbia NE's 20.