By Dennis Burton
Correspondent
GARNER – Turnabout is fair play.
In game one of the American Legion Area 1 semifinal series, Cary Post 67 came from behind in the ninth inning to steal a 4-3 win and a one game to zero lead. On Friday, Garner returned the favor.
Garner stayed alive in its American Legion Baseball series with Cary Friday night, forcing a deciding third game in their Area I West semifinal battle. Game 3 will be played tonight (Friday) at Trojan Park on the campus of Garner High School at 7.
North Chatham eliminated Clayton from the Area I West playoffs on Friday night with a 12-9 victory. North Chatham awaits the winner of the Garner-Cary series, which will begin on Monday night.
Garner Post 232 will host Games 1 and 2 of its American Legion Baseball Area I West Semifinal series against Cary Post 67 on Thursday and Friday. The games will be played at Trojan Park on the campus of Garner High School. Both games begin at 7 p.m.
The best-of-three series will conclude (if necessary) on Saturday at a site to be determined.
Clayton Post 71 survived a marathon battle with Raleigh Post 1 Tuesday night to advance to the semifinals of the American Legion Baseball Area I West playoffs. Post 71 took a 20-5 win in eight innings, on a night that included a two-hour delay for rain and lightning.
Post 71 will meet North Chatham beginning Thursday night in a best-of-three series. The series schedule is as follows...
Thursday, Game 1: Clayton at North Chatham (Northwood High School), 7 p.m.
Friday, Game 2: North Chatham at Clayton (Smithfield-Selma High School), 7 p.m.
Saturday, Game 3 (if necessary): Clayton at North Chatham (Northwood High School), 7 p.m.
Garner Post 232 meets Cary in another semifinal series, also beginning Thursday. We're waiting on the series schedule on that one.
RALEIGH – Cary Bulls manager Ron Powell let out a few tears. He talked about being old and how that was necessary for him to reach a milestone of this magnitude.
With the Bulls defeating North Raleigh Post 297 Black 15-4 on Thursday night in the second game of a doubleheader, the Bulls won their 500th game.
Powell has been the manager for every victory.
“What it means to me is that we’ve had about 170 kids that have been a part of our program,” said Powell, who has led the Bulls for 15 years. “It’s been really fun. We’re a development program and we try to get each player to develop and dream he can play at the next level.”
The first round matchups in the Area 1 West Quarterfinal American Legion Baseball playoffs, which begin Sunday night, have been set. All series are best two-of-three games. We'll update the progress each day here.
Sunday, July 3
Game 1 of 3
Clayton at Raleigh (East Wake), 7
Roxboro at Garner, 7
Monday, July 4
Game 2 of 3
Raleigh at Clayton (Smithfield-Selma High), 7
Garner at Roxboro, 4
Tuesday, July 5
Game 3 of 3
Roxboro at Garner, 7 (if necessary)
Clayton at Raleigh (East Wake), 7 (if necessary)
American Idol Scotty McCreery got back to his baseball roots over the weekend in his hometown of Garner. McCreery was in the dugout with the Garner Post 232 American Legion Baseball team on Friday night and Sunday afternoon during the Post’s annual Joey Family American Legion Invitational Tournament.
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.
