ALWS Game 4: South Carolina closes Opening Day with record pitching performance
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Florence, S.C., left-hander Aydin Palmer capped a record-setting opening day on Thursday in the American Legion World Series with 14 strikeouts as Post 1 defeated Lincoln, Neb., 3-0.
Palmer’s effort set the ALWS record since 2018 for single game strikeouts — or when national rules shortened games from nine innings to seven.
He broke a two-way tie with nine strikeouts set in 2019 by Jimmy Gamboa of Henderson, Nev., and earlier on Thursday by Colton McAnelly of Cheyenne, Wyo.
Earlier in the day, Jacob Cyr of League City, Texas, threw the first no-hitter in ALWS competition since 1976, and Troy, Ala., drew a record 15 walks.
Just as importantly for Palmer, Florence manufactured two early runs to give him enough support for the victory.
Post 1, which went unbeaten (5-0) with 40 runs in last week’s Southeast Regional in Asheboro, N.C., used three walks, a hit batter and sacrifice fly to score twice in the top of the first inning.
Florence’s Brody Cook drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in the first run and Zach Hunt’s sacrifice fly tallied the second run.
Post 1 added another run on Cook’s 2-out RBI single in the sixth inning.
Palmer, who yielded five hits, two walks and a hit batter, struck out the side in the first, second and third innings. He also wriggled out of a first-inning jam in which Lincoln had runners on second and third with one out and the bases loaded with two outs.
Zane Davis finished up the shutout by retiring three of the four batters he faced with one walk and one strikeout.
Josh Williams had two hits to lead Florence’s seven-hit offense.
Garrett Springs had two hits to lead Lincoln’s five-hit offense.
Both teams are off on Friday before returning to action on Saturday as Florence meets Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at noon and Lincoln meets Brooklawn, N.J. at 3 p.m.
