Midland Post 165 finished pool play unbeaten, while Portland won the three-way tiebreaker to keep their season alive.
Driven by the rules of pool play, it was the rare American Legion World Series game where both teams walked away happy.
Midland (Mich.) Berryhill Post 165 edged Portland (Ore.) Post 158, 4-3, on Sunday in Game 11 to finish unbeaten in the Stars Division. And the low number of runs and slim defeat margin was enough for Portland to advance into Monday’s semifinals as the division runner-up.
Portland advances to play Stripes Division champion Tupelo (Miss.) Post 49 at 4 p.m. on Monday and Midland plays Stripes Division runner-up Lincoln (Neb.) Carpet Land Post 500 in the other semifinal at 7 p.m.
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PHOTO 1: Jaden Tragesser of Portland, Ore. Post 158 scores a run. PHOTO 2: Blake Sian of Midland, Mich., Berryhill Post 165 congratulates teammate Jaden Elford. PHOTO 3: Pitcher Ben Foglio of Portland, Ore. Post 158. PHOTO 4: Gabe Wegener of Midland, Mich., Berryhill Post 165 at bat. PHOTO 5: Pitcher Blake Sian of Midland, Mich., Berryhill Post 165. PHOTO 6: Cal Gradwahl of Portland, Ore. Post 158 at bat. Photos by Chet Strange
Portland, Jacksonville (Fla.) Post 316 and Bedford (N.H.) Post 54 all finished 1-2 in the Stars Division. The first three-way tiebreaker is fewest total runs allowed. Portland allowed 13 runs, Jacksonville allowed 16 and Bedford allowed 26.
In Sunday’s game, Portland used five Midland errors and six Midland walks to generate its offense before finally getting its first and only base hit to lead off the seventh inning.
Portland took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the third on two errors and two walks.
Midland took a 3-2 lead in the fifth when Taber Edwards-Benner hit a leadoff double and Jimmy Sequin and Jayden Mieske had RBI singles and Aryan Punjabi a sacrifice fly.
Portland tied the game at 3 with the help of a walk and a two-out fielding error in the top of the sixth.
In the bottom of the seventh, Midland’s game-winner came in when Punjabi drew a bases-loaded walk.
“We lost the battle so we could have a chance to win the war,” Portland coach Joe Duran said. “That’s the way it goes sometimes.
“It wasn’t a pretty game. We only got one hit but we move on. Everybody’s 0-0 now and we’re still playing. That’s all that matters.”
Midland, making its 10th appearance in Shelby in the ALWS, is in the pool play semifinals for the fifth time. Post 165 advanced to the finals in 2014 and 2024 and lost in the semifinals in 2018 and 2022, while winning the 2009 ALWS in Fargo, N.D.
“We just finished talking as a team and (Monday’s semifinal) is just another game,” said Midland coach Dan Cronkright. “It’s one game. And if we win tomorrow, we are blessed enough to play on Tuesday night for a championship.”
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