Photos by Morgen Orr Richland's Alston James pitches for the Pathfinders. James threw a complete game only allowing one run on eight hits and striking out eight. Richland Post 6 used three separate three- run innings to run away with game four on July 17 of its first round playoff series with Easley and advance to the second round. Doug Allen went 3- for- 3 with a walk and scored four runs, while Justin Strauss went 3- for- 4 with five RBI to pace the Pathfinders.

Alston James pitched a complete game allowing just one run in eight innings as the game was ended early due to the mercy rule with the score 11- 1.

Post 6 scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning when the number nine hitter, Strauss, doubled to leftcenterfield, driving in Emmett Richardson and Allen. Kirk Sims also scored in the inning on a daring attempt at home plate on an Easley passed ball.

Photos by Morgen Orr Richland catcher Kirk Sims scores on a play at the plate in the second inning for Post 6's first run. In the fourth inning, Richland loaded the bases when Richardson singled while Allen and Leland Shealy walked. Three straight at- bats drove in runs for the Pathfinders with Strauss knocking in his third RBI by scoring Richardson, Kevin O'Quinn legging out an infield hit to drive in Allen, and Kyle Strasburger knocking in Strauss on a fielder's choice to make the score 6- 0. O'Quinn was thrown out at home to end the inning, temporarily sparing Easley further damage.

The sixth inning brought two more Richland runs after Allen tripled to deep centerfield. When Strauss recorded his fourth RBI by again driving in Allen and a squeeze bunt by Strasburger scored Shealy, the home side had an 8- 0 advantage. Though Strauss was thrown out at the plate to end the sixth, the game was clearly in hand for the Pathfinders.

Through seven innings, James had not faced more than four bat- ters in any inning and had struck out seven against just five hits. Easley finally got to James in the top of the eighth, opening the inning with back- to- back singles. After recording two outs, Seth Hunter singled to center to knock in the only run of the game for the visitors. But Tim Bowman was gunned down at home to end the inning and preserve James' stellar pitching line.

Post 6's Doug Allen heads for home in the second inning. Allen went 3-3 with a single, double, triple and a walk while scoring all four times he reached base. Richland jumped all over Easley again in the bottom of the eighth. Allen doubled, Shealy bunted his way on base, and a Strauss sacrifice fly scored Allen and made the score 9- 1. O'Quinn then singled in Shealy for a 10- 1 lead. Robert Gibbes's single to left scored O'Quinn for the 11- 1 result. The game was called for mercy rule considerations giving Richland a 3- 1 victory in the series and a second round date with Spartanburg.