Lincoln (Neb.) Carpet Land Post 500 defeated Midland (Mich.) in a five-inning game in the semifinals.
In the end, the only doubt about Monday night's second American Legion World Series semifinal between Lincoln (Neb.) Post 500 and Midland (Mich.) Post 165 was whether or not they could complete the game after a heavy rainstorm and lightning in the area delayed play nearly two hours.
At the time of the delay, Lincoln was only three outs away from a no-hit win and its second ALWS title game in four years before completing the convincing 10-0, five-inning victory over Midland at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C.
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PHOTO 1: Reid Meves of Lincoln, Neb. Carpet Land Post 500 scores a run. PHOTO 2: Kalai Larsen of Lincoln, Neb. Carpet Land Post 500 slides into second past Cuyler Smith of Midland, Mich., Berryhill Post 165 . PHOTO 3: Jay Roper of Midland, Mich., Berryhill Post 165 at bat. PHOTO 4: Cade Anderson of Lincoln, Neb. Carpet Land Post 500 makes a catch. PHOTO 5: Pitcher Jimmey Sequin of Midland, Mich., Berryhill Post 165. PHOTO 6: Easton Lunn of Lincoln, Neb. Carpet Land Post 500 runs to third base. Photos by Chet Strange
After play resumed following a one-hour, 48-minute delay, Midland quickly ended the no-hit bid with Gabe Wegener's sharp single up the middle on the first pitch from reliever Trevor Roach. But Roach retired the next three batters to preserve a combined one-hit shutout with starter Kalai Larsen, who was relieved after the delay.
The resumption lasted just seven minutes.
Carpet Land Post 500, which had to beat Whitehouse (N.J.) on Sunday to advance as the Stripes Division runner-up, scored in four of five innings in rolling to the victory over unbeaten Stars Division champion Post 165.
Bradyn Erickson's two-out RBI double in the first inning put Post 500 ahead and a wild pitch and Dele Odulate's grand slam in a five-run second inning made it 6-0.
Lincoln would tack on two more in the fourth on sacrifice flies by Larsen and Erickson and two more runs on a wild pitch and a fielder's choice grounder by Larsen in the fifth as light rain began falling at the stadium.
Larsen, who picked up a save in Sunday's win with a two-inning effort, retired the first nine batters he faced and finished with four scoreless innings with five strikeouts and two walks in the fourth inning.
Lincoln lost 1-0 to League City (Tex.) in the 2023 championship game and seeks to become Nebraska's second ALWS title-winner, and first since 1939.
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