Legion Baseball regionals: Day 3 recap
For brackets, schedules, statistics through Friday and live stats click here. To follow the action on the Legion Baseball app, click here.
Here is a recap of the day’s events, with unbeaten teams listed with an asterisk:
Region 1 – Northeast – Shrewsbury, Mass.
Game 12: Maine vs. Shrewsbury (Mass.)
Game 13: Stamford (Conn.) vs. Braintree (Mass.)*
Braintree took a comfortable 7-1 lead into the top of the ninth, but their in-state rivals, Shrewsbury, rallied to equalize. A two-out rally in the bottom of the frame helped Braintree walk it off, with a single from Cole Flannery bringing home Joseph Vanelli, who doubled. Stamford eliminated Rhode Island, 13-2, and Maine held off New Hampshire, 6-4, to stay alive, as well.
Region 2 – Mid-Atlantic – Purcellville, Va.
Suspended after Game 10 due to weather
Zero losses: New Jersey, Ephrata (Pa.)
One loss: Albemarle (Va.), Leesburg (Va,)
Eliminated: Wesleyville (Pa.), New York, Delaware, Maryland
Absolute insanity in Virginia and they didn’t even finish all of the games! Game 8, moved from Thursday, went the way of Ephrata, 2-1, over Maryland, but not without drama. Maryland had the bases loaded and one out, but the trailing run was cut down at home on a 3-2 fielder’s choice before another grounder ended the threat. In the second game of the day, the hosts, Leesburg gave up six straight after taking a 4-0 lead, but rallied to retake the lead before giving up two in the top of the eighth. After forcing extras with a run in the bottom of the eighth to force extras, the hosts walked it off in the 11th. After two games down to the last pitch, you wouldn’t expect this region to get any wilder, but nobody could’ve predicted what happened when Albemarle and Maryland got together (check out the line score!) Friday. After Maryland scored multiple runs in six of the first eight innings, only two outs were needed to close out an 18-8 run-rule game. Albemarle rallied for seven in the eighth and tied it up in the ninth to force extra innings, 18-18. After the pitchers found their grooves for three innings, Albemarle hit four straight singles to end the contest and the night, as weather and curfew forced Game 11 to be moved to Saturday.
Region 3 – Southeast – Asheboro, N.C.
Game 12: Wilmington (N.C.) vs. Florida
Game 13: South Carolina vs. Randolph Co. (N.C.)*
Randolph County held on to a 5-4 win with the tying run on second as the hosts advanced past Florida in the winner’s bracket final. The hosts will face South Carolina, who took advantage of mistakes by Alabama to stay alive. Florida will face off against the winner of the other elimination game, Wilmington, which topped Georgia, 10-7, behind four eighth-inning tallies.
Region 4- Mid-South – New Orleans
Game 12: Tennessee vs. Arkansas
Game 13: Leplace (La.) vs. Oklahoma*
A walk-off single in the 10th kept Oklahoma undefeated, besting Arkansas, which rallied from a 4-1 hole to force extras. Oklahoma will face Leplace, which used strong pitching to eliminate Mississippi, 2-0. Arkansas will face a Tennessee team which dug itself a hole, but scored the final four runs of the game to knock out Missouri, 4-3.
Region 5 – Great Lakes – Napoleon, Ohio
Game 12: Indiana vs. Edwardsville (Ill.)
Game 13: Danville (Ill.) vs. Michigan*
The elimination bracket had two barnburners, with Indiana staying alive with a 9-8 win over Eau Claire (Wis.) and Danville (Ill.) topping Oshkosh (Wis.), 15-11. In the winner’s bracket, Michigan topped Edwardsville (Ill.), 10-2, to remain unbeaten. Michigan will face Danville after the contest between Edwardsville and Indiana.
Region 6 – Central Plains – Dickinson, N.D.
Game 12: Fargo (N.D.) vs. Iowa
Game 13: South Dakota vs. Creighton Prep (Neb.)*
The winner’s bracket final was as nervy as most predicted, with Iowa stranding the tying run at third after a clutch strikeout and well-earned celebration from Creighton Prep in a 8-7 win. Fargo and South Dakota stayed alive with two tight elimination game wins, knocking out Dickinson (N.D.) and New Brighton (Minn.), respectively.
Region 7 – Northwest - Missoula, Mont.
Game 12: Washington vs. Hawaii
Game 13: Idaho vs. Missoula (Mont.)
The host team remained unbeaten with a strong showing against Hawaii to win 10-4. The hosts will face off with Idaho, which topped Wyoming 9-3 in an elimination game. Washington won in 10 innings to knock out 2016 American Legion World Series representative, Medford (Ore.), 9-8.
Game 12: California vs. Utah
Game 13: Texas vs. Nevada*
California opened the day with a 17-6 victory over New Mexico in an elimination game. Texas kept its bats hot after scoring 25 on Thursday, scoring seven in the sixth to get by Arizona, 11-9, to stay alive. In the winner’s bracket, Nevada rallied with two in the eighth and one in the ninth to force extra innings and won in walk-off fashion with a double down the right field line.