Only two unbeaten teams remain in tourney

LANCASTER – Day two of the Ohio American Legion Baseball State Tournament had some exciting finishes Thursday at Beavers Field.

Two teams were eliminated in the eight-team tournament, while the two winner’s bracket games were battles.

In the first two loser’s bracket games, Athens Post 21 held off Sandusky Post 83, 8-7, and in the other game, Tuscarawas County Post 205 trailed 6-1 in the ninth inning against St. Clairsville. However, a grand slam tied the score to force extra innings. Tuscarawas ended winning 8-7 in 11 innings to stay alive in the tournament.

The two winner’s bracket games were exciting, as well.

Toledo/Adams Township Post 553 had a 10-4 lead against Utica Post 92, but Utica scored five runs in the eighth innings to cut the deficit to one. Toledo would add an insurance run and won 11-9 to stay in the winner’s bracket. Although Utica out-hit Toledo 14-8, Utica committed 10 errors.

“They gave us a lot of base runners, and early on, we capitalized on it, but our pitching kind of got tired,” said Toledo coach Dave Harris. whose team has a 37-6 record. “To their credit, they started hitting the ball. They didn’t give up and they came back. I guess it’s just one of those games that you have in the tournament, but hey, we won, and that’s all that matters.

“We have relied on our pitching all year. We’ve had 18 shutouts and our pitching has been fantastic. This is the first time we’ve given up this many runs all year, but you get in a tournament and you never know how kids will react.”

In the final game of the day, tournament favorite, Yeager/Harrison Post 199 was upset 4-3 by Troy Post 43.

Post 43 scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and used two pitchers the rest of the way to make it stand.

It was the most anticipated game of the day. Troy improved to 36-12 and Yeager dropped to 36-3.

“We had that good first inning and we were able to get some good shots and score some runs,” Troy coach Irvin Brown said. “It was a big game for us and for them, and we knew it would be coming in. The key for us us we have a veteran team, and the pressure doesn’t get to our guys.”

Two more teams will be eliminated Friday when Athens takes on Utica at 10 a.m. and Tuscarawas plays Yeager at 1 p.m. The winner’s bracket game between Toledo and Troy starts at 7 p.m.

twilson@lancastereaglegazette.com

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Twitter: @twil2323