West Columbia's Cody Bessinger slides safely back to first base against Inman. Derek Cushman pitched a one- hit shut- out, and Luke Beasley went 3- for- 4 with four RBIs and a run to lead West Columbia Post 79 11- 0 over visiting Inman Post 45 in the second round of the American Legion state playoffs. The shut- out is the second straight for West Columbia and gives Post 79 a 1- 0 lead in the best of five series.

Cushman only struck out two Inman batters, but he forced twelve essentially harmless fly balls and faced more than three Inman batters in just three of his seven innings. He never faced more than five. His only blemish was the five walks he allowed, but he scattered those for the most part.

The West Columbia defense was also solid. Left fielder Zach Sharpe slipped going for a line drive in the first inning, but still managed to grab the ball in the air while sliding on his knees to end the Inman threat.

Inman's one hit came in the second inning when starting pitcher Heath Gray bounced one over the right center field fence, but Cushman struck out Taylor Blanton, then coaxed a fly ball from Matthew Banks to end the inning.

West Columbia's Derek Cushman tossed a one- hitter against Inman in game one. West Columbia took over in the bottom half of the second. Corey Holmes started the inning with a blast over the right centerfield fence. Then Ryan Burt hit the first of three straight West Columbia singles to left field. After Jonathan Betancourt and Zachery Hawley followed Burt, the bases were loaded for Beasley. Beasley drilled yet another single to left field scoring Burt and Betancourt. An error on Lucas Knight's infield grounder scored Hawley. Todd Joyner then singled to centerfield to score Beasley and Knight giving West Columbia a 6- 0 lead.

West Columbia added three more in the third off Zachary Sharpe's two out single to centerfield that scored Cody Bessinger. Beasley then blooped a singled just over the third baseman's outstretched arm to score Sharpe and Hawley who had singled earlier in the inning. Cushman rocked on with two very quick outings in the fourth and fifth innings facing just six Inman batters.

West Columbia's Luke Beasley went 3- for- 4 with four RBIs and a run against Inman in game one. Inman imploded further to start the bottom of the fifth inning with two quick errors allowing Hawley to advance to second base. Sharpe promptly singled to left centerfield scoring Hawley and giving West Columbia a 10- 0 lead. West Columbia added one more in the sixth when Betancourt's shot sailed over the left fielder's head scoring Bessinger.

Inman had no answer in the seventh enacting the mercy rule at 11- 0.

Betancourt finished 2- for- 4 with an RBI and a run. Sharpe was 2- for- 3 with two RBIs and two runs. Hawley went 2- for- 3 with two runs. Overall, West Columbia tallied 13 hits.

West Columbia will travel to Inman Tuesday night, then back to West Columbia (Airport High School) Wednesday night for game three. If necessary, game four is Thursday night in Inman and game five is Friday night at Airport High School. all games are subject to weather.