Portland Post 158 rebounds from opening day loss to defeat Rockport Post 254.
Most would think losing the opening game of an American Legion Baseball national tournament would create enormous pressure.
But Portland (Ore.) Post 158 responded to those trying circumstances.
One day after a disappointing 7-6 loss to perennial power League City (Tex.) Post 554, Portland’s offense scored runs in six of its seven innings in a 13-5 win over Rockport (Ind.) Post 254 on Saturday afternoon in the American Legion World Series at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C.
“We’re really a good offensive team,” Portland head coach Joe Duran said. “So I think starting off strong sends a strong message when our backs are against the wall.”
Much like it did in the Northwest Regional when Post 158 scored 10 or more runs in five straight victories to punch its ticket to Shelby, the Barbers were sizzling at the plate.
They scored four in the first inning, two in the second, one in the fourth, two in the fifth, one in the sixth and three in the seventh, and were never retired in order.
Joe Fagan (4 hits, 2 doubles), Gabe Coltman (3 hits, double, triple, 4 RBIs), Dakota Chun (2 hits, double, 1 RBI), Carter Stewart (2 hits, home run, 4 RBIs) and Ryden Nakamura (2 hits, double, 2 RBIs) led the team’s hit parade.
Coltman’s RBIs gave him a team single season record of 71.
“So he’s hot and Fagan’s hot and Carter Stewart was MVP of our state tournament and Dakota Chun was the MVP of our regional tournament,” Duran said.
Coltman’s two-run double highlighted the first inning rally and he had an RBI triple in the third. And Stewart’s three-run home run closed the scoring for Post 158.
On the mound, starter Griffin Scott (4 innings, 4 strikeouts) and relievers Logan Nakamura (2 innings, 1 strikeout) and Kainoa Santiago (1 inning) combined on the nine-hitter.
Ty Brown (3 hits), Jared Burger (2 hits) and Micah Toler (home run, 3 RBIs) led Rockport’s offense.
On Sunday, the 1-1 teams will look to gain a berth in Monday’s semifinals with Rockport meeting League City (Tex.) at 1 p.m., and Portland facing Lincoln (Neb.) at 4 p.m.
- Baseball