August 18, 2012

Florence holds off Moline in ninth-inning rally
 
SHELBY, N.C. – Florence, S.C. survived despite a six-run rally by Moline, Ill., in the bottom of the ninth to advance at the 2012 American Legion World Series in a 10-8 victory on Saturday.

Florence (41-6) appeared to be en route to a lopsided rout. The Southeast Region champs scored three in the first, two in the third, two in the fifth and tacked on three more in the sixth to build a 10-0 lead over Moline (48-9).

That lead looked as if it would hold up and yield a seven-inning, mercy-rule win. Florence came within a strike of sealing the game, but Moline’s Matthew Brill finally broke up the shutout bid by starting pitcher Akeem Bostick with an RBI double.

That forced play to the eighth inning, and Bostick was lifted in favor of CJ Hopkins. Illinois plated one run off Hopkins and trailed 10-2 heading into the ninth.

Florence seemed to come unraveled at that point. Relief pitching issued three walks and hit a batter, and the fielders botched two plays that could have netted outs. The bases were still loaded when Brill grounded out to end the game.

Florence advanced to third round play on Sunday where it will meet either Omaha, Neb., or New Orleans at 1 p.m. Moline concluded its season.