ALWS Day 1: Medford knocks off defending champs

Medford (Ore.) Post 15 pitcher Jordan Ragan had a simple plan for facing the two-time defending American Legion World Series (ALWS) champs. And then he went out and executed it.

Ragan pitched eight strong innings, while teammate Micah Brown came up big in the seventh inning to lead Medford (42-13) past Brooklawn (N.J.) Post 72 3-2 in Game 1 of the ALWS.

Ragan allowed six hits and struck out eight before being taken out with a runner on in the top of the ninth. He got Brooklawn to ground out 10 times.

“I knew I had to throw a lot of strikes,” Ragan said. “If I threw a lot of strikes, I knew they were going to get themselves out. That’s kind of what happened today.”

Steen Frederickson singled home Eric Carlson in the second inning, and Austin Zavala added a run in the fourth after being hit by a pitch, advancing on a sacrifice and then a wild pitch, and then coming home on Colton Westfall’s single.

After Brooklawn (44-6) had tied the game at 2 in the top of the sixth on RBIs from Anthony Harrold and Ray Taylor, Brown led off the seventh with a triple. The next batter, Bryce Rogan, followed with a single up the middle to bring home Brown with a game-winning run.

“Obviously (taking the lead) brought me a lot more confidence,” Ragan said. “Our team bounces back pretty good.”

Taylor would single to start the ninth, ending Ragan’s day and bringing Cody Coggins on in relief. Taylor was thrown out by Zavala, Medford’s catcher, attempting to steal second; Coggins then got a pair of fly balls to end the game.

“It’s real easy to take this win and get complacent and just kind of sit on this win,” Ragan said. “But we need to keep fighting and do what we did today to every other team.”

Game 2: Midland (Mich.) Post 165 12, Cromwell (Conn.) Post 105 1, seven innings. It didn’t take long for Midland newcomer Ty Jones to make an ALWS impact for his new team.

Jones, who played for Lewiston Post 198 in Gaylor, Mich., prior to this season, had two hits and drove in three runs. His doubled plated two runs during a five-run fourth pushed Midland’s lead to 8-0.

Making the transition to his new team wasn’t difficult for Jones. “The coaching staff is unbelievable,” he said. “They help you with anything. They don’t get down on you. They always pick you up. And the guys are just as great. Everybody wants to be here, and we’re all family in the dugout.”

Cole Brooks had four hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs for Midland, while Derrek Clyde also had two RBIs. Caleb Sommerville allowed six hits and one earned run over seven innings.

Cole Ogorzalek drove in the only run for Cromwell (37-5).

Game 3: Waipahu (Hawaii) Post 35 5, Omaha (Neb.) Fifty-Two's Patriots Post 374 4. Waipahu rallied from 3-1 and 4-3 deficits, scoring two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to pull out the win. Tyler Yamaguchi’s fly ball to right field scored Kaho Akau to tie the game, and Tyler Yamaguchi’s single then scored Rustin Ho all the way from second.

Grant Doi stepped up in relief and picked up the win for Waipahu (31-1), allowing five hits and no earned runs over the final seven innings.

Mike Brown took the loss for Omaha (41-18) despite allowing just four hits and three earned runs over seven innings. Jared Renken and Drew Gilin each had two hits and an RBI for Omaha.

Jim Horn honored. Shelby resident Jim Horn, whose work with Eddie Holbrook helped bring the ALWS to Shelby, was honored prior to Game 3 Thursday. Horn, who passed away in March, had a home plate column dedicated to he and his family.

Horn served as co-chair with Holbrook of the Cleveland County ALWS Baseball Inc. Executive Committee; for their efforts, the pair was inducted into the North Carolina American Legion Hall of Fame.

Horn also was a member of Shelby Post 82’s 1951 state-championship Legion Baseball team.