Randolph County Post 45 suffered its first loss of the American Legion World Series on Sunday. Despite the 5-0 setback to Bryant, Ark., at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, the local team still qualified for the tournament semifinals.
Post 45, which won its first two pool play matchups, will take on Omaha, Neb. at 7:30 p.m. Monday for a chance to play in Tuesday’s national championship game.
For the second straight night, Randolph County had trouble generating any offense, managing only a pair of Peyton Williams hits and a Cam Morrison single. But unlike its win against Lewiston, Idaho on Saturday, it wasn’t able to scratch across enough runs to win.
For awhile, it looked as if neither team would score, as Post 45 starter Bobby Weary matched Arkansas starter Will McIntyre out-for-out through the first five scoreless innings. But Weary was touched for three runs in the top of the sixth and reliever Jaxon Snider surrendered two unearned markers in the seventh to seal Randolph County’s fate.
Post 45’s only hits came on a one-out singles by Williams in the second and Morrison in the fourth, and a leadoff double by Williams in the fifth. Williams, however, was cut down trying to stretch his hit into a triple. Although Trevor Marsh followed with a walk, he was stranded at second, the only time his team put a runner in scoring position all game.
Randolph County was already assured a spot in the semifinals before the game began, thanks to Hopewell, N.J.’s win against Lewiston that left both teams with 1-2 pool play records. Arkansas will take on a team from Henderson, Nev., in Monday’s first semifinal.
