Randolph County Post 45 loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the seventh, but couldn’t get any runs home in dropping a 3-1 decision to Omaha, Neb., in the semifinals of the American Legion World Series on Tuesday.
The loss eliminated the state representative from the eight-team national tournament, played at Keeter Stadium in Shelby.
Post 45 fell behind 2-1 after the first inning, which was played Monday night before the game was suspended by a torrential downpour. The score stayed that way upon the resumption of play until the bottom of the sixth, when Nebraska tacked on an insurance run.
That set the stage for a dramatic finish.
Leadoff hitter Dalton Hammer started the seventh inning rally with a single to center and advanced to second on teammate Dawson Painter’s third hit of the game. A walk to Cam Morrison loaded the bases and put the tying runs in scoring position. But as was the case throughout the day, Post 45 failed to come up with the big hit when it needed one.
Cleanup man Bryce Marsh made the first out on a popup to third and Peyton Williams was retired on a popup to second before Trevor Marsh bounced into a fielder’s choice to end the game.
Randolph County, a team made up of teenage players from high schools in and around the Asheboro area, left at least one runner on base in every inning and stranded 11 in the game. While Post 45 has its season come to an end with a 40-10 record, Omaha advanced to the championship game later in the evening, where it lost 2-1 to newly crowned national champion Henderson, Nev.
