West Johnston defeated Mooresville 9-2 this afternoon to win the 2010 Junior American Legion Baseball state championship. The Wildcats, who finished the season 28-3, never trailed in the contest. Mooresville advanced to the state title game by beating South Caldwell 7-6 in nine innings earlier Tuesday.
We'll have much more on West's run to the state championship in next week's print editions of the Garner-Clayton Record and The Herald of Johnston County.
West Johnston took its first loss in the American Legion Junior Baseball State Tournament Monday evening but will still play for the title tomorrow afternoon at Durham Athletic Park. The Wildcats, who fell to South Caldwell 6-4 on Monday (just their third loss of the season), will meet either South Caldwell or Mooresville at 3 p.m. for the state title.
Mooresville and South Caldwell play at noon on Tuesday for the right to meet West Johnston later in the afternoon.
West Johnston's American Legion Junior Baseball team remained unbeaten in the state championship tournament this afternoon, topping rival Cary 14-5 for its third straight win in the event. The Wildcats had 14 hits on the day and pitcher Tyler Marshburn worked a complete-game victory.
Cary Post 67 earned a spot in the American Legion Baseball State Championships later this month Friday night, topping Johnston County-based Post 71, 5-4. Post 67 won the series three games to one.
Blair Betts clinched the win for Cary, striking out a Post 71 batter with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth inning.
Look for more on the series next week in The Cary News, The Southwestern Wake News, the Garner-Clayton Record or The Herald of Johnston County.
West Johnston built an 8-1 lead in its American Junior Legion Baseball State Championships opener but then had to hold on for an 8-7 victory over South Caldwell Friday morning at Durham Athletic Park. The Wildcats will next play Saturday 5:55 p.m. back at Durham Athletic Park (the older ballpark in Durham, not the Bulls' current home) against the winner of today's Leland vs. Kernersville game.
Cary Post 67 topped Johnston County-based Post 71 14-9 Thursday night in Game 3 of their American Legion Baseball Area I West Championship Series. The win moves Post 67 ahead 2-1 in the best-of-five series.
Correspondent Michael Held, who is covering the series for the N&O Community Newspapers, reports that Post 67 pounded out 20 hits. The Sabres of Johnston County fell behind 9-3 but rallied to tie the game at 9 in the sixth. Cary went back ahead for good on a two-run double by Stephen McKinney in the top of the seventh. McKinney was 6-for-6 on the night with seven RBIs and two home runs. He also earned the win in relief, as Post 71 was unable to score over the final three innings of play.
Post 71 of Johnston County grabbed the first game of the series but has lost the past two games in the series. Game 4 of the series will be played Friday night at 7 at Cary High School. If necessary, Game 5 will be Saturday at Cary.
Cary Post 67 roared back Wednesday night to even up the Area I West Championship Series against Johnston County-based Post 67, taking a 12-3 victory in an American Legion Baseball playoff series. The win evens the best-of-five series at a game a piece. Game 3 of the series is tonight at Spartan Field on the campus of Smithfield-Selma High School. First pitch is at 7 o'clock.
West Johnston will begin its quest for the American Legion Baseball junior championship Friday at 9:45 a.m. at the old Durham Athletic Park. West, which carries a 24-2 record into the event, will play either South Caldwell or Belmont in the opener. Play in the event continues through Tuesday.
The Wildcats would play at 5:55 p.m. Saturday night with a win in Friday's game or get another early wake up call (10 a.m.) for their next game if they fall on Friday.
You can view the entire state tournament schedule here:
http://carybulls.com/2010_NCStateTourney/schedule.html
Johnston County-based Post 71 defeated Apex Post 124 13-9 Sunday night to advance to the third round of the American Legion Baseball playoffs. Post 71 will meet Cary Post 67 in the Area I West Championship Series, beginning Tuesday night.
Cary eliminated Garner Post 232 from the playoffs with a 12-2 victory in seven innings on Sunday night.
The Post 71-Cary series will be a best-of-five format. The schedule has not been announced as of this morning.
Garner Post 232 and Apex Post 124 both kept their seasons alive for at least another night on Saturday, forcing deciding Game 3s in their American Legion Baseball playoff series.
Garner took an 10-5 victory over Cary Post 67, earning a deciding game tonight at Cary High School. Apex beat Johnston County-based Post 71 9-6 to earn another shot at the Sabres. Game 3 of that series is tonight at Smithfield-Selma High School.
Both games tonight start at 7.
The winners of each of these series meet in the Area I West Championship Series, starting Tuesday night. The winner of that series is guaranteed a spot in the state championship tournament.
