August 18, 2012

Late rally powers Louisiana come from behind win
 
SHELBY, N.C. – New Orleans rallied for five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to pull out an improbable 8-7 come-from-behind victory over Omaha, Neb., at the 2012 American Legion World Series at Keeter Stadium on Saturday.

New Orleans (39-6) trailed Omaha (50-9) for the lion’s share of the game. The Central Plains Region champs scored twice in the first and three more in the third to build a 5-1 advantage. Starting pitcher Jeff Albrecht held the potent New Orleans lineup quiet for six innings.

Albrecht surrendered a leadoff double in the bottom of the seventh to Mitch Alexander, which the Mid-South champs converted into two runs. Albrecht was relieved by Adam Wilson.

However, Omaha’s relievers wilted in the eighth. Louisiana continued to chip away, loading the bases and getting help from four walks and a hit batter. They managed to take an 8-7 lead before ending the inning.

In its last stand, Omaha’s Jon Hechtner led off and reached on an error. He moved to second on Cale Dineen’s sac bunt, and after an Evan Ryan groundout, the dramatic stage was set. Taylor Elman hit a single to right, and Hechtner tried to score from second, but a pinpoint throw from Alexander, New Orleans’ right-fielder, beat Hechtner by three steps, and the game was over.

New Orleans advances to Game 11 where it awaits the winner of Bellevue, Wash., and Brooklawn, N.J. Omaha will face Florence, S.C., in an elimination game on Sunday at approximately 1 p.m.