August 17, 2012

Williamson homer lifts New Orleans to 11-inning win

SHELBY, N.C. – Brady Williamson of the Retif Oil baseball team of New Orleans blasted a two-run homer in the top of the 11th inning to lead his team to a 5-3 victory over Milford, Conn., in the first round of the 2012 American Legion World Series at Keeter Stadium on Friday.

New Orleans’ (38-6) Emerson Gibbs out-dueled Milford’s (30-7) Matt Ferraiola for the win. The Louisiana state champs built an early 3-0 lead, but Milford answered with three in the bottom of the second.

After that, it was the pitchers’ show. The game remained deadlocked, 3-3, at the end of regulation as Gibbs struck out eight and Ferraiola pitched effectively with runners on base.

Christian Baglini came on to relieve Ferraiola in the top of the 10th while Gibbs remained in the game. That seemed to be the difference as Williamson finally tilted the scales in the 11th.

C.J. Avrard pitched the 11th for New Orleans and picked up the save.

New Orleans advances in the Championship Bracket where it faces Omaha, Neb., at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday. Milford squares off against Lakewood, Calif., in a 9:30 a.m. elimination game.