Richland Post 6 coaches and players have spent the season waiting for the team to "put it all together."

They found enough pieces often enough to earn an American Legion baseball state tournament berth. But with the best- of- five first- round series in full swing, they are still waiting.

After Tuesday's 12-10 decision at Clover, the Pathfinders found themselves tied 1-1 in the series.

In Monday night's opener, the Pathfinders received the pitching. Russell Gahagen and Joseph O'Steen combined to hold Clover to three runs on seven hits. The duo combined to shut out Clover over the final six innings. It wasn't enough; the team's defense, base running and offense didn't come together in a 3- 2 loss.

"Gahagen battled; he threw a lot of pitches in too few innings, but we got out of some jams," Richland Post 6 coach Ray Derrick said. "Joseph came in, and you couldn't ask for anything better. That was the best he looked all year. He gave us a chance to win."

O'Steen allowed two hits and struck out six in four innings.

Clover scored all of its runs in the third inning, including one on a wild pitch and another on throwing error on an attempted pick- off play at third, one of three Richland 6 errors.

Despite the loss, the Pathfinders drew optimism from the fact they consistently put men on base against Clover's ace, Clint Medlin, who had six of the team's 13 wins (after Monday). Richland Post 6 put 14 men on base against the starter, including six in scoring position with less than two outs. In those situations, however, the Pathfinders went 2- 12. The hits, Ray Prince's third- inning double and David Houser's sixth- inning double, accounted for Richland's runs. Richland also had two runners retired in rundowns.

"We had chances in the seventh, the eighth, and the ninth," Derrick said. "If we came up with a big hit, we would have won."

If the Pathfinders are to advance past the first round, Derrick and his players know they have to stop using the word "if."

Upper State Playoffs (As of 7/14/09): Greenwood 11 Spartanburg 5, Greenwood leads 2- 0; Richland 12 Clover 10, Series tied 1- 1; Irmo 11 Chester 1, Series tied 1- 1; Lancaster 6 W. Columbia 2, Lancaster leads 2- 0; Inman 9 Easley 6, Inman leads 2- 0; Gaffney 7 Orangeburg 2, Gaffney leads 2- 0.