Editor’s note: West Columbia Post 79 took a 2–0 lead in its American Legion first round playoff match–up with Greer with 8–5 and 9–2 victories, but Greer took the next games 11–10 and 4–3 to even the series. West Columbia traveled to Greer Friday, July 9 and pounded out a 15–10 victory to win the best of five series and advance to the second round to face League champion Greenville who dispensed Fort Mill in three straight. Greenville took game one of the series 11–9 Monday, July 12. Tuesday night’s game at Airport High School was postponed due to rain.

Lucas Knight collides with the Greer shortstop at second base. Photo by Claire Ward

The following is the  story of Greer’s 4–3 victory in Game Four at Airport High School, Thursday July 8. Late game single by Greer ties up series with West Columbia July 8 • Airport HS

By Josh Cruse

Going into the top of the ninth of game four in the opening round of the American Legion playoff best–of–five series between Greer and West Columbia Post 79, the score was tied 3–3. Only one of Greer’s last ten batters had reached base. Through eight innings, West Columbia’s pitcher, Stuart Pound, had only given up four hits. His dominance even spilled over into the top of the ninth, forcing the leadoff hitter for Greer to ground out. But then Pound walked and gave up a double giving Greer runners on second and third with only one out. West Columbia coach Legree Oswald decided to play his infield in preparing for a play at the plate. But Chase Corn hit a single to right field bringing the go–ahead run in to give Greer a 4–3 lead.

“We were going to try to cut the runner off at home. It’s that simple, and they hit it where we weren’t,” Oswald said.

Despite giving up the late run, Pound was able to limit the damage like he had during the entire game. In the second inning, after giving up an RBI single, he allowed a walk and then forced a ground out to get out of the inning. Then, in the fifth inning, after giving up a home run, Pound struck the next batter out. Again in the top of the sixth, Pound gave up another home run, but again limited the damage to just that one run while getting three outs with the next three batters.

Pound was able to rely on a defense that was solid whether it was the inning ending double play in the first inning or Todd Joyner’s diving catch in right field to rob Greer of an extra base hit in the fourth.

Offensively, it was timely hits, like a two–run home run by Matt Tanner in the bottom of the second to give West Columbia a 2–1 advantage or a leadoff double by Lucas Knight in the bottom of the fifth to put the tying run on base that kept Post 79 in the ball game. However, three straight outs in the bottom of the ninth allowed the ninth inning run by Greer to be the deciding factor in a 4–3 win that tied the series between the two teams at 2–2.

“It was a great ball game. They came to play. We came to play. We knew in the second or third inning that it was probably going to be a close game. In reality, their kid was throwing strikes and our kid was throwing strikes, and, if we played defense, it was going to be a close game and that’s what happened,” Oswald said.

American Legion Playoff Notes: The Richland Post 6 Pathfinders dug a 0–2 hole in their first round playoff series with 9–3 and 14–12 losses to Gaffney, but the Pathfinders battled back with two one–run victories of 4–3 and 5–4 to tie the series. But the end, Gaffney proved to be too much winning the series in Gaffney with an 11–0 victory Friday, July 9.

However, as hosts, the Pathfinders will return to compete in the state tournament to be held in Columbia July 23–27.

Irmo–Chapin Post will not defend its 2009 title as Spartanburg eliminated Post 193 in straight with victories 18–16, 11–1, and 11–10. For complete tournament results, visit www.P–15.com.