ALWS Day 2: Hess sparks New Orleans win
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Benjamin Hess comes across as the consummate team player. But the Retif Oil (New Orleans) right fielder was almost a one-man wrecking crew at the plate and in the field in Thursday, leading his team past Cromwell (Conn.) Post 105 2-1 in Game 4 of The American Legion World Series (ALWS).
Hess had two hits, scored a run and drove home what ended up being the clinching run. But he was a demon in the field, making a diving catch with a Cromwell runner on second in the fourth inning and then throwing out a runner at the plate in the bottom of the fifth.
He also caught a fly ball for the game’s final out.
“It feels really great to make those kinds of plays,” Hess said. “But if my team doesn’t do what they do, then what I do doesn’t matter at all. I just try to help my team out any way I could.”
Hess, batting .519 since the regional round of the postseason, doubled in the fourth inning and came home on Hayden Fuentes’ double. An RBI single by Hess scored teammate Harrison Daste and gave Retif (32-7) a 2-0 lead in the seventh.
It was the ALWS opener for Retif but by no means the program's first action in Shelby. Hess’ older brother, Jonathan played for New Orleans Post 125’s 2012 ALWS championship team.
“He’s been communicating with me every day and supporting me,” Benjamin said. “Knowing that he won it in 2012, I kind of want to replicate that if I can.”
Mason Mayfield picked up the win, pitching the first seven innings; teammate David Boh pitched two perfect innings for the save.
Nick Queiroz drove in Leo Thomas for Cromwell (37-6 overall, 0-2 in the ALWS) in the bottom of the seventh.
Game 5: Medford (Ore.) Post 15 3, Omaha (Neb.) Fifty-Two's Patriots Post 374 2. Cody Coggins was dominant through the first seven innings, leading Medford to a 2-0 start in the ALWS. Coggins had a shutout going before tiring in the eighth inning and surrendering two runs. Teammate Aaron Hutchinson came on in relief and picked up the save.
It was the second-straight dominant pitching performance from Medford. On Thursday, Medford starter Jordan Ragan allowed just two runs over eight innings to two-time defending champ Brooklawn (N.J.) Post 72 in another 3-2 win.
“They’ve been consistent all year,” Medford Coach Nate Mayben said of his pitching staff. “It’s been the backbone of this team, and it continues to be. The thing that we’re doing better now than we did most of the season is play defense behind them.
“Our pitching’s had around a 2.00 (earned-run average) as a team all year. They get the job done, and now we’re getting the job done defensively.”
Coggins, who retired 16 batters in a row at one point, praised the defense – especially for a double play in the top of the first inning when Omaha had runners on the corner with one out.
“We had some great plays,” Coggins said. “That double play in the first … that’s awesome. (We) had some good catches in the outfield. So it’s nice to know that even when balls get hit hard they’re going to make some plays.”
Austin Zavala drove in two runs for Medford (43-13), which led 3-0 through seven innings.
Jonah Ulane pitched well for Omaha (41-19), scattering eight hits over seven innings and now allowing an earned run. Jared Renken and Nate Mallott each drove in runs in the loss. Omaha is 0-2 in the ALWS.
Game 6: Chapin-Newberry (S.C.) Post 193 2, Midland (Mich.) Post 165 1. In maybe the best game of the first two days, Post 193’s Peyton Spangler drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth inning, bringing home teammate Andrew Livingston for the winning run in Game 6 of The American Legion World Series.
Post 193 (29-0) trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth, but Ryan Stoudemire reached on an error and Kevis Burton followed with a single. Pinch runner Delshun Young was thrown out at third on Livingston’s fielder’s choice, but Zach Ziesing followed with a deep double to center field that showed Burton.
Danton Hyman was then intentionally walked to load the bases, and Spangler followed suit on four pitches to bring home Livingston.
Ryne Huggins went the distance for Post 193, scattering nine hits and striking out six. Midland pitcher Jordan Patty nearly matched Huggins pitch for pitch, giving up nine hits and striking out five in 8.1 innings.
Midland (47-7 overall, 1-1 in the ALWS) scored in the top of the third when Cole Brooks drove home Derrek Clyde.