West Columbia’s Stuart Pound, who also pitched into the eighth inning, tries to complete a double play against Murrells Inlet from second base. Photos by Mike Maddock Sadness could be found in both dugouts following Monday afternoon’s elimination game of the South Carolina American Legion State Tournament.

The sadness in the West Columbia dugout stemmed from a 6–5 loss to Murrell’s Inlet that ended Post 79’s season.

The sadness in the victorious Post 178 dugout arose from Jason Tomlinson, who started and pitched five innings to earn the win hours after learning of his mother’s death.

“For a kid to go out and throw that kind of game after announcing to his teammates that his mother had died is just unbelievable,” West Columbia coach Legree Oswald said. “That is a huge testament to his character and faith.”

In the postgame handshake line, Oswald stopped, embraced Tomlinson, and offered private words of praise.

West Columbia shortstop Jonathan Betancourt bats against Post 178. Tomlinson, a rising sophomore at Coastal Carolina, learned of his mother’s death from a second bout with cancer in the morning, but didn’t tell teammates or coaches until after the team arrived at Capital City Stadium. Though his mother had been in declining health, the family wanted Tomlinson to play the last event of his legion career.

Tomlinson pitched five innings giving up four runs on six hits. He walked five and hit three. That helped West Columbia produce 10 runners with less than two outs through the first five innings, but Post 79 produced only four runs. A pair of double plays gutted threats in the first two innings.

“We would get runners on but couldn’t get the big hit,” said West Columbia infielder Dylan Parker, who finished with two of Post 79’s eight hits. “It seemed like every inning we would get runners on first and second but not get them around.”

West Columbia catcher Austin Dunn completes a double play. Jon Betancourt was the only other Post 79 player with two hits; he also drove in two.

By not delivering a knockout blow early, West Columbia fell victim to Murrell’s Inlet’s four–run sixth inning against Post 79 starter Stuart Pound. The uprising gave Post 178 a 6–4 lead.

With the lead, Justin Vreeland relieved Tomlinson to start the bottom of the sixth and allowed one run on two hits the rest of the way. He retired nine in a row to end the game.

“Both were mixing fastballs and curves and changing location well,” Parker said. “Both pitchers threw strikes when they needed to.”

The loss ended West Columbia’s postseason run one game short of the state final.

Hours after learning of his mother’s death, Jason Tomlinson started and pitched five innings for Murrells Inlet to earn the win . “We had a great season,” Parker said. “We finished something like 18–9 or 19–9, made it to the state tournament, and almost got to the final. There is nothing to be down about when you think about the season we’ve had.”
West Columbia third baseman Josh Sealey hauls in a soft line drive against Murrells Inlet.