Virtually every game in this year’s ALWS was decided by runs scored with two outs.
Most baseball coaches will tell you that two-out hitting is one of the best ways to win.
In the 2024 American Legion World Series, it was the difference in most of the 15 games played at Shelby’s Keeter Stadium at Veterans Field.
Looking at record since 2021, the 43.4 percent of the 106 total runs in the 2024 ALWS came with two outs was the highest it has ever been — and that includes the four most important runs of the tournament.
Troy (Ala.) Post 70 scored four of its five runs with two outs, including one in the sixth inning and three in the seventh, as it rallied from an early deficit to defeat Midland (Mich.) Post 165, 5-3 in the 2024 ALWS championship game.
In fact, of the 13 games in the 2024 ALWS with two-out run production, all 13 winners scored with two outs highlighted by Midland’s 1-0 walkoff win over defending ALWS champion League City (Tex.) in the semifinals.
Troy was the big two-out winner in the event as Post 70 scored 13 of its 31 runs with two out. Other big two-out scorers were Midland (9 runs), Fargo (N.D.) 8, League City 7 and Billing Scarlets (Mont.) 5.
Ironically, a game that was dominated by two-out hitting proved to be Troy’s lone defeat.
Five of the nine runs scored in Fargo’s 5-4, 14-inning win over Troy came with two outs, including a Troy run in the seventh inning and Fargo runs in the 10th and 13th innings that kept the game going.
The contest, which was delayed by lightning and rain for nearly two hours, was the longest contest in actual time in ALWS history at six hours and 12 minutes.
Two-out hitting also played a big role in the ALWS in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
In 2021, 40.0 percent of the 135 total runs came with two out including nine by Idaho Falls (Idaho) in its 13-3, 5-inning win over Beverly (Mass.)
In 2022, 39.0 percent of the 128 total runs came with two out including Troy’s decisive two-run rally in the top of the seventh inning of its 6-5 championship game victory over Idaho Falls.
And in 2023, 42.7 percent of the 97 total runs came with two out including walkoff wins in back-to-back games by Cheyenne (Wyo.) and League City.
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