Tupelo Post 49 advances to Monday’s semifinals, against the Stars Division runner-up.
Tupelo (Miss.) Post 49 clinched the Stripes Division title in the 2026 American Legion World Series on Saturday with a 7-4 win over Lincoln (Neb.) Carpet Land Post 500 at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C.
And Post 49 followed a familiar script — powerful hitting and efficient pitching — to improve to 2-0 in pool play and 26-5-1 overall this season.
“I’m really proud of the way we’re swinging the bats right now,” Tupelo coach Russell Bunch said. “And I thought we got a great effort out of our starter and both relievers.”
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PHOTO 1: Tupelo, Miss. Post 49 takes a moment to pray before the beginning of Game 8. PHOTO 2: As temperatures on the field hovered near 100° the players from Lincoln, Neb. Carpet Land Post 500 tried to stay cool in the dugout. PHOTO 3: J.P. Enis of Tupelo, Miss. Post 49 celebrates a hit. PHOTO 4: Dele Odulate of Lincoln, Neb. Carpet Land Post 500 runs to third.
The only downside was a late-game injury scare to No. 3 hitter and first baseman Brayden Edmiston. After hitting a hard grounder into the outfield, Edmiston twisted his left knee and never got out of the batter’s box before being thrown out at first base for the first out uin the top of the seventh inning.
“I think he’s going to be alright,” Bunch said of Edmiston, who had two hits including a double in Saturday’s victory. “I think it just scared him. It hurt really bad at the time. But he’s a tough kid and I’d be really surprised if he’s not trying to go tomorrow.”
Bunch has the luxury of being able to rest any player in Edmiston’s situation as Post 49 has already beaten the two other teams with victories in the division, Whitehouse (N.J.) Post 284 and Lincoln. It means Tupelo is already locked into Monday’s 4 p.m. semifinal matchup against the Stars Division runner-up that won’t be determined until Sunday’s action is completed.
Post 49 will play the Fairfield (Calif.) Expos (0-2) in the final game of pool play at 7 p.m. on Sunday night.
“We might let some people rest,” Bunch said. “The plan is to win them all. We’re going to give California our best and we’re wanting to leave no doubt in the pool, and look forward to the rest of the week.”
Tupelo improved to 6-1 in national American Legion Baseball postseason play by again scoring early and often. Post 49 has outscored its opponents by a 60-17 margin.
Colin Flurry hit his fourth home run in those seven games, and third in two games in Shelby, with a two-run blast to start the scoring in the bottom of the second inning. Eli McDaniels’ two-run double closed the four-run inning. An error and Will Moody’s RBI single in the third inning made it 6-0. And McDaniels singled, stole second base and scored on a throwing error to make it 7-0 in the fourth.
McDaniels (2 hits, 2 RBIs), Edmiston (2 hits, double) and Flurry (2 hits, home run, 2 RBIs) led Tupelo’s offense and starter Cade Lott (2 1/3 innings), reliever and winner Braedyn Lackey (3 2/3 innings) and Brody Thompson (1 inning) handled the pitching chores.
Easton Lunn (2 hits) and Trevor Roach (RBI double) led Lincoln’s offense.
Next for Tupelo (26-5-1): 7 p.m. ET Sunday vs. Fairfield (Calif.) Expos.
Next for Lincoln (52-7): 1 p.m. ET Sunday vs. Whitehouse (N.J.) Post 284
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