Friday, August 29, 2008

Burns vs. Crest football

It's 40 minutes before gametime and folks are filing in to the stands on both sides of Sid Bryson Stadium.
Be sure to check out longtime Star photographer Jeff Melton's blog here at http://www.shelbystar.com/ for a photo blog of tonight's contest.

The sun is bright and making things pretty warm for players and spectators alike. I'll bet the ice cream vendor down on the track behind the west end zone does a good business tonight.
A few facts:
David Devine is coaching his first game with the Burns Bulldogs. He took over on an interim basis when it was announced that Ron Greene would undergo further surgery on his knee. Devine is no stranger to this game, having been a member of Burns' 1994 state championship club.
Burns hopes to end a long losing streak against their county rival. The Chargers haven't lost to Burns since 1998.
Both teams were in the state playoffs last season. The Bulldogs fell to NW Cabarrus in the first round in 3A while the Chargers bowed to Mount Tabor in the second round of the 4A playoffs.

Co-captains tonight: For visiting Burns -- Monterrio Merriweather, Jeremy Givens, Preston Smith and Mitchell Smith
For the host Chargers -- Reggie Wilkins, A.J. Straight, Josh McDowell, Levon Brooks and honorary captain Blake Hollifield (injured)

Crest's speed is quickly apparent. Chargers move 54 yards in three plays to take the lead. Quarterback Reggie Wilkins breaks free for a 22-yard score off the right side. Trever Austin's kick is good. Crest ahead, 7-0 with 10:13 left in the first period.

Burns fumbles the football away on its first play from scrimmage and Crest's Rhaheim Ledbetter recovers at the Bulldogs' 32. Chargers unable to convert as Burns takes over on downs at the 24. Bulldogs though go three and out and kick it away.

The teams exchange kicks before Crest starts moving again. Two rushes by freshman Quortez Wright have the Chargers in first-and-goal at the 7 as the quarter comes to an end.
Reggie Wilkins keeps around the left field to score from the 7 on the first play of the second period. Trevor Austin's kick is good and Chargers take a 14-0 lead with 11:53 to to in the half.

Burns' Jonah Brooks returns punt to the Crest 20 midway in the second quarter. He loses the football but teammate Jeremy Givens recovers to put the Bulldogs in business at the Charger 16.
The momentum swings in an instant as Burns' Jonah Brooks coughs up the football on third and 7 at the 13. Crest's Aldrich Watson picks up the football and sets sail in the opposite direction. He's caught from behind by Burns' Preston Smith at the Bulldogs' 16. Two plays later Neil Chambers carries it in from six yards out off the left side. Austin's kick puts Crest ahead 21-0 with 6:14 left in the half.

The only other score we've heard thus far: Shelby leads Morganton Freedom 20-0 in the second quarter over at George Blanton Memorial Stadium.

The rest of the half is played in the center of the field. On the final play of the half, Crest QB Reggie Wilkins hits Brandon Strong deep down the right side. He breaks a tackle but is knocked out of bounds at the three-yard line as time expires. Chargers own a 21-0 lead at halftime.

Crest owns a 9-3 edge in first downs at halftime. In this heat and humidity, that means the Burns defense is staying on the field a lot longer and it could be a factor in the fourth quarter should the contest tighten up.

Crest's Aldrich Watson intercepts on Burns' opening series in the third quarter. Chargers moved for another score with Wilkins going in from 10 yards out for his third TD of the night. Austin's kick puts the Chargers in front, 28-0, with 5:38 to go in the third period.

End of the third quarter, Crest still in front 28-0. Over at Shelby, Golden Lions ahead of Freedom 20-0 after three quarters.

Both teams getting a lot of reserves on the field in the fourth period.
Burns threatens late as Chris Marlow hauls in a 57-yard pass to get the Bulldogs drive to the 15. Burns' Jonah Brooks is stopped on fourth-and-one by Crest's Rhaheim Ledbetter for a four-yard loss, allowing Crest to take over at the 19 with 1:57 to play.

Burns gets another shot at it as Crest fumbles the ball away on first down. Four straight incompletions give the Chargers possesion at the 40 with 1:13 to play.

Final score: Crest 28, Burns 0
Wilkins had the most impressive stat of the night with 120 yards rushing for the Chargers.
Other county scores tonight - Kings Mountain 32, Hunter Huss 18
Shelby 20, Freedom 0

Monday, August 18, 2008

Regional Championship

...And then there were two!
Host Shelby Post 82 and Sumter Post 15 are squaring off here very shortly for the American Legion Southeast Regional Tournament championship. We have a packed house at Keeter Stadium and Veterans Field with even the grassy banks above the dugouts packed with fans.

Here are the starting lineups:
For Shelby (36-14) which will be the visiting team: Seth Canipe (CF), Brett Wease (SS), Kyle Kendrick (C), Adam McFarland (3B), Julian Ridings (DH), James Gold (1B), Eric Shuford (RF), Corey Cline (2B), Jordan Robinson (LF). Righthander Adam Izokovic is starting on the mound.
For Sumter (32-3), the home team on the scoreboard: Quentrell Nelson (RF), Bruce Caldwell (SS), Travis Witherspoon (CF), Matthew Price (3B), Michael Blackmon (DH), Tony Micklon (C), Matthew Talley (1B), Cam Martin (LF), Robert Benenhaley (2B). The pitcher is righthander Tyler Smith.

First pitch at 7:30 p.m.
Seth Canipe lines the third pitch of the game into left-center field for a double for Shelby. Brett Wease then sacrifices to put Canipe at third.
After Kendrick fans for the second out, McFarland grounds out to the second baseman to retire the side. No score, Sumter coming to bat.

Izokovic retires Sumter 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first. Still no score.

Shelby threatens in the second with two outs as Eric Shuford is hit by a pitch, then Sumter starter Tyler Smith walks Jordan Robinson to load the bases. On a 3-2 count, Canipe lines another double into the left-center field gap to score all three runners for a 3-0 lead. Sumter Coach Wallie Jones decides to make a pitching change, bringing in lefthander Matthew Talley.
Talley fans Wease to retire the side. Shelby in front, 3-0.

Sumter third baseman Matthew Price leads off the bottom of the second with a solo home run, the fourth of the tournament for the University of South Carolina signee.
Izokovic pitches around two infield errors to keep the score at 3-1, in Shelby's favor, after two complete innings.

Shelby goes quietly in the top of the third, score stays 3-1.
In the bottom of the inning, Izokovic retires Sumter 1-2-3.

Shelby gets leadoff runner aboard in top of fourth but can't move him. Score remains 3-1.
Sumter gets a leadoff walk in the bottom of the inning and moves him to third, but he's stranded as Robinson gathers in a fly ball for the third out. The score after four: Shelby Post 82 3, Sumter 1.

Tension seems to be mounting as the game seems to be settling into a pitcher's duel. Kyle Kendrick doubles in the top of the fifth for Post 82 and moves to third with two outs. Julian Ridings hits a high hopper to the right side that Sumter first baseman Samuel Key dives and comes up with. From the ground, he fires to pitcher Talley covering the bag, barely nipping Julian Ridings for the third out. Score still: Shelby 3, Sumter 1.

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Sumter Post 15 strikes quickly. Quentrell Nelson is hit by a pitch, then Bruce Caldwell hits a line drive home run to right center field to tie the contest. After 5 complete: score is deadlocked at 3-3.

Talley mows down Shelby 1-2-3 in the top of the sixth leaving the score tied at 3-3.
After the Sumter leadoff batter gets aboard in the bottom of the inning and is bunted to second, Shelby makes a pitching change. Eric Shuford comes to the hill to replace Izokovic, who gave up only three hits but two were home runs. Shuford retires two straight to leave the runner stranded at second. Score remains: Shelby 3, Sumter 3.

Jordan Robinson leads off for Shelby and hits a deep liner to center that Sumter's Travis Witherspoon hauls in on the run at the wall. The next two batters go quietly, leaving the score tied 3-3 in the middle of the seventh.

In the bottom of the seventh, a bunt single, walk and error load the bases with two outs as Sumter cleanup hitter Matthew Price comes to the plate. Price is 10-for-23 with 4 HR and 10 RBI in the tournament. Price hits a hard liner that Jordan Robinson runs down in front of the fence for the third out. End of seven: score still tied 3-3.

Talley continues to roll along for Sumter. He retires Shelby 1-2-3 in the eighth and has now mowed down 11 in a row. The score is still 3-3.

Shuford responds by getting Sumter three straight. We go to the ninth inning all tied up at 3-3. Not too many of the 5,000-plus fans on hand are leaving this one early.

The tall Sumter lefthander continues to shut down the Shelby offense. Talley strikes out the side in the top of the ninth. Score remains 3-3.

Two errors allow Sumter to score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth. With one out and runner Samuel Key on second, Quentrell Nelson bunts down the third baseline. Shelby's Adam McFarland scoops and throws to first but the ball and the runner arrive at the base and the same time and the ball goes off first baseman James Gold's glove, allowing Key to keep motoring across the plate with the game winner.

Sumter (33-3) earns the right to come back to Shelby for the World Series starting Friday.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Shelby vs. Randolph County

It's Shelby vs. Randolph County in the winner's bracket showdown in the American Legion Southeast Regional Tournament at Shelby High's Keeter Stadium at Veterans Field.

We've got beautiful weather, a huge crowd and two good teams going at it. A reminder: Sunday's games will be at 1 & 5 p.m.

The lineups:

Randolph County: Cameron Cockman (SS), Josh Hohn (C), William Ridge (3B), Steven Davis (LF), Ethan Marsh (CF), Tyler McSwain (P), Austin Moyer (1B), Bradley Holland (RF), Jessie Seawell (2B).
Shelby: Seth Canipe (P), Brett Wease (SS), Kyle Kendrick (C), Adam McFarland (3B), Julian Ridings (RF), James Gold (1B), Eric Shuford (LF), Corey Cline (2B), Jordan Robinson (CF).

Seth Canipe is on the mound for Shelby. His ejection late in Friday's second-round game with Tuscaloosa, Ala., carried no extra penalty.
Canipe allows a hit but keeps Randolph County Post 45 scoreless in the top of the first.

Bottom of first: Canipe is hit by pitch leading off and Brett Wease bunts him down to second. Canipe moves to third on Kyle Kendrick's groundout to the right side. Randolph commits error on Adam McFarland's grounder to short, allowing Canipe to score the first run of the game. Inning ends, Shelby up 1-0.

Randolph County unable to mount a threat in the bottom of the inning.
Score stays: Shelby Post 82 1, Randolph County 0.

After one out, Post 82 stages a rally in the bottom of the second inning. Consecutive singles by Eric Shuford, Corey Cline and Jordan Robinson bring in a run, making it 2-0. Brett Wease slaps a two-out double past the first baseman down into right field corner, sending Cline and Robinson across to make it 4-0. That's the way it stays as the side is retired.

Randolph loads the bases in the third on a single, hit batsmen and walk. With two outs, Ethan Marsh -- the MVP of the state tournament in Gastonia -- is at the plate. The rising sophomore from Pfeiffer flies out to Julian Ridings to leave the runners stranded. Score stays: Shelby 4, Randolph 0.

Shelby gets a runner aboard in the third but a fine play by Randolph third baseman Hunter Ridge retires the side. Score is still 4-0.

Randolph comes alive in the top of the fourth. A pair of walks and a sacrifice bunt puts runners on second and third with one out. Nolan Seawell for Post 45 hits one deep to left, but Shelby's Eric Shuford makes the catch up against the wall. One run comes in on the sacrifice fly. Cameron Cockman then singles to right to bring in the second run before Canipe retires the side. Score: Shelby 4, Randolph 2.

Jordan Robinson singles and steals second for Shelby in the bottom of the fourth but Brett Wease's hard liner to center was caught Randolph's Ethan Marsh to retire the side. The score is still Shelby 4, Randolph 2.

Jordan Robinson takes over on the mound for Post 82 in the top of the fifth inning.
With one swing, the entire complexion changed. With two out and two aboard, Randolph first baseman Austin Moyer smashes a three-run home run deep into the trees in right-center field to give Post 45 a 5-4 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Shelby ties it. Adam McFarland doubles then scores on James Gold's single to left. After 5 complete innings: score is tied at 5-5.

In the top of the sixth, Randolph scratches a run out on two infield singles and a RBI hit to left by Hunter Ridge. Randolph 6, Shelby 5.

And now for a special announcement: Tonight's attendance is 4,671. For the day the figure stands at 7,051. The three-day total for the tournament is 18,408.

Back to the action -- Shelby gets a runner to second in the bottom of the sixth but he's left stranded. Score remains: Randolph 6, Shelby 5.

Post 82's Robinson strikes out the side in the top of the seventh. It's still 6-5.

As the old Batman TV show goes "Biff, Boom, Pow!" A leadoff single by Kyle Kendrick is followed by a line-drive home run over the right-centerfield wall by Shelby's Adam McFarland, putting Post 82 ahead 7-6 in the bottom of the seventh. Eric Shuford lines into a double play to end the inning. With seven innings in the book, Post 82's on top, 7-6.

Randolph gets leadoff runner aboard in eighth and bunts him to second. Groundout to right side puts runner at third with two out and Josh Hohn at bat for Post 45. Hohn drives Shelby rightfielder Julian Ridings back to the wall but he leaps and makes the catch to end the inning. Shelby still ahead, 7-6.

Shelby goes quietly in bottom of eighth. Post 82 head coach Mike Grayson makes the move to bring in his closer, Eric Shuford, to pitch the ninth.

Hunter Ridge beats out an infield single to open the ninth, then Ridge steals second. Randolph's Steven Davis fans for the first out. Shuford fans Ethan Marsh for second out, bringing Travis McSwain to the plate for Randolph.
McSwain grounds to Wease at short, James Gold digs out the throw for the final out. Shelby wins, 7-6, as fireworks show erupts above Keeter Stadium at Veterans Field.

Final stats: Shelby 7 runs, 9 hits, made 1 error
Randolph 6 runs, 10 hits, 4 errors
WP - Jordan Robinson. LP - Travis McSwain.
Save -- Eric Shuford.
HR -- Adam McFarland (Sh), Austin Moyer (Randolph)

Friday, August 15, 2008

Shelby vs. Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Shelby Post 82 vs. Tuscaloosa, Ala. Post 34

winner's bracket, second day

Shelby is the visitor. The lineup: Seth Canipe (CF), Brett Wease (SS), Kyle Kendrick (C), Adam McFarland (3B), Julian Ridings (DH), James Gold (1B), Eric Shuford (RF), Corey Cline (2B), Jordan Robinson (LF) ... Pitcher - Adam Izokovic.

Alabama champs' lineup: Cameron Carlisle (LF), Jay Davis (C), Nick Vickerson (SS), Corban Green (1B), Hunter Trawick (DH), Vince Korthawi (2B), Rob McWhirter (3B), Colby Dickerson (RF), Coy Arrowood (CF) ... Pitcher Wes Grammar

Incredible crowd on hand for this contest. Through 2 days of the event, attendance has already topped the 11,300 mark.
First pitch of game comes at 8:49 p.m.

Top of 1st -- Shelby takes a 1-0 lead. An error, walk and infield single by Julian Ridings loads the bases. James Gold singles to right to score Seth Canipe. Eric Shuford flies out deep to center to end the inning.
Bottom of first -- Tuscaloosa puts runners on second and third with two out, by Izokovic gets a ground ball out to Corey Cline at second to escape the jam. After 1 inning: Shelby Post 82 leads, 1-0.

Shelby hitters go 1-2-3 in top of 2nd.
Tuscaloosa takes the lead in the bottom of the inning. A two-out two-run single by Cameron Carlisle makes it 2-1. One runner left stranded.
Tuscaloosa 2, Shelby 1.

Shelby strikes back in top of third inning. Adam McFarland delivers a two-RBI double down the first baseline into the corner. McFarland later scores when Gold grounds into a double play. Side retired. Shelby Post 82 now leads, 4-2.

Tuscaloosa cuts into the margin in the bottom of the third. Corben Green doubles to the deepest part of the park in center to send Nick Vickerson across in front of him. Izokovic's able to leave two runners stranded, keeping Shelby ahead 4-3.

Corey Cline leads off top of the fourth with a solo home run down the line to put Post 82 ahead, 5-3. Shelby on verge of breaking game open as it loads the bases, then Kyle Kendrick grounds into force play at second. Brett Wease's hard slide prevents double play as a run scores. An infield error plates another run, then Julian Ridings doubles to the left-field fence to send two runners across. Tuscaloosa makes pitching change to Jody Mason before side is retired.
After 3 1/2 innings, Shelby in front, 9-3.

Big flies continue to dominate the action. Cameron Carlisle hammers solo home run to left for Tuscaloosa to make it 9-4. Another run scores on a wild pitch in the inning before the side is out. After four complete innings, Shelby ahead 9-5.

Post 82 goes quietly in the top of the fifth, still 9-5. Tuscaloosa unable to respond in bottom of inning. Shelby though goes three up and three down in top of the sixth inning. Score remains: Shelby Post 82 9, Tuscaloosa 5.

In bottom of sixth, a single and walk forces a pitching change. Brett Wease takes over on mound for Post 82. He gets a flyout and two infield grounders to hold Tuscaloosa at bay. Shelby still leads, 9-5.

Seventh-inning stretch time!
In top of seventh, Julian Ridings leads off with his third hit of night. James gold then draws a walk. A passed ball moves runners to third. Corey Cline hits a sacrifice fly to left to score Ridings, but Gold's left stranded at third. Shelby Post 82 now leads, 10-5.

Tuscaloosa stages a rally with some help from Shelby. With two outs and a runner aboard, a fly ball to deep right is mishandled. When the hitter tries to go to third, an errant relay throw sails wide. Two runs score on the play.
Coy Arrowood then steps up and blasts a solo home run to make it 10-8. Eric Shuford, Thursday's night mound winner, comes in to pitch for Shelby. Shuford fans Carlisle to end the bottom of the seventh.
Going to the eighth, Shelby Post 82 leads 10-8.

Seth Canipe lines a home run over the left field wall to start the top of the eighth for Post 82. Brett Wease then beats out a bunt and moves to third on an errant throw. A wild pitch moves Wease to third. Tuscaloosa makes a pitching change, bringing Hunter Trawick to the mound.
Rally continues as Adam McFarland's bad-hop single scores another run. Julian Ridings hits a line shot into right field for his fourth hit of the night, plating a run to make it 13-8.
Shelby scores another run when Jordan Robinson draws a bases-loaded walk. Seth Canipe takes a third strike on a questionable outside pitch, then when Canipe reacted to the pitch, umpire throws him out of the game. Jacob Tisdale enters the game in Canipe's spot in the order.
Going to the bottom of the eighth, Shelby leads 14-8.

Tuscaloosa keeps fighting back. A leadoff double by Jay Davis and a RBI single by Hunter Trawick makes it 14-9.
With two outs and rain picking up ... umpires decide to delay the contest for the time being.
Action resumes after a break of less than 15 minutes. Tuscaloosa continues its rally, scoring again before the side is retired.
After eight innings: Shelby Post 82 14, Tuscaloosa, Ala., 10.

Shelby unable to mount any threat in the top of the ninth. 14-10 going to bottom of the ninth.

Shuford retires Tuscaloosa in order to end it.
Shelby wins, 14-10, and faces Randolph County at 7 p.m. in an all-North Carolina winner's bracket final.

Notes: winning pitcher - Adam Izokovic.
Losing pitcher - Wes Grammer
Save - Eric Shuford
HR - Seth Canipe (Sh), Coy Arrowood (Tuscaloosa)
Top hitters - Shelby: Julian Ridings 4-for-4, Adam McFarland 2 hits, Brett Wease 2 hits; Tuscaloosa: Jay Davis 3 hits, Cameron Carlisle 2 hits, Coy Arrowood 2 hits.
Alabama plays at 1 p.m. against Columbia, Tenn.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Shelby vs. Puerto Rico

The 5 p.m. Randolph County (NC) vs. Leesburg (Ga.) game finally ended at 10:10 p.m. with the North Carolina champions winning 8-4.

At this unusual late hour, the starting lineups in the American Legion Southeast Regional between Shelby Post 82 (34-14) and Guaynabo, Puerto Rico Post 134:

Shelby is the visitor. The lineup -- Seth Canipe (CF), Brett Wease (SS), Kyle Kendrick (C), Adam McFarland (3B), Julian Ridings (DH), James Gold (1B), Eric Shuford (RF), Corey Cline (2B), Jordan Robinson (LF).
Puerto Rico -- Jorge Laguer (SS), Wilfreo Rosario (RF), Miguel Pagan (3B), Samuel Marrero (1b), Ryan Santos (LF), Jan Vazquez (C), Rafael Sanchez (LF), Angel Fonseca (DH), Jonathan Torres (CF), Brian Quilies (P).

First pitch on this foggy, wet night came at 10:53 p.m.

Shelby drew first blood in the top of the first inning.
Seth Canipe drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on Brett Wease's sacrifice bunt. Adam McFarland lined a two-out double to right-center field to plate Canipe. Shelby would leave two runners stranded in the inning ... Shelby 1, Puerto Rico coming to bat.

Note: Hard to believe there's still more than 1,000-to-1,2000 fans still in the ballpark at this hour.

Oddity: When the first disputed call of the contest occurred in the bottom of the first, there were three coaches from Puerto Rico out talking with the umpires about the play. The umpire ruled that a Guaynabo hitter had leaned into a pitch rather than avoid it and was not allowed to go to first base.
When the coaches came out, the third person from the Puerto Rico bench was thee merely to serve as the translater between the coaches and the umpiring crew.
Shelby pitcher Adam Izokovic allowed a leadoff walk but escaped damage. Shelby still leads, 1-0, after one inning.


Shelby is threatening to break the contest open early.
Post 82 scored five times in the second inning to take a 6-0 lead.
Shelby got only two hits -- a bunt single by Corey Cline and a RBI single by James Gold -- but benefitted from three walks by the Puerto Rico pitchers. An error and hit batsmen also contributed to the rally.
Before the side was out, the Guaynabo coaches made a pitching change, bringing Luis Flores to the mound.

Shelby's lead didn't last long. Puerto Rico scored four times in the bottom of the second on just two hits. Four walks and an error allowed Post 134 to crawl back into the contest. Jordan Robinson came on to replace Shelby starting pitcher Adam Izokovic. Puerto Rico left the bases loaded thanks to a hard liner right at first baseman James Gold to end it.
After two complete innings: Shelby 6, Puerto Rico 4.

In one swing, Shelby Post 82 got most of its lead back. Seth Canipe launched a three-run shot over the left-centerfield wall in the top of the third to lift Shelby back into a 9-4 lead.

It was Puerto Rico's time to use the long ball. Rafael Sanchez drilled a solo opposite field home run in the bottom of the third to draw Post 134 within 9-5.

Shelby went back on the attack in the top of the fourth. Singles by Eric Shuford, Corey Cline and Jordan Robinson netted a run. Canipe then drilled a double to right center to score a pair, giving him five RBI on the night. Canipe later crossed on Adam McFarland's infield single for a 13-5 advantage.

It certainly is a night for offense. Puerto Rico came back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it 13-8, chasing Robinson from the mound in the process. Brett Wease came on for Shelby to get the final out. Rafael Sanchez, who homered earlier in the contest, delivered a two-run, two-out single to spark the rally.

The late-night hits just keep on coming. Jordan Robinson ripped the second Post 82 home run of the night in the bottom of the sixth. His three-run shot lifted Shelby to a 16-8 edge. The inning ended at 1:20 a.m.

Things are getting even crazier around here. Puerto Rico scores five in the bottom of the fifth, including two on a wild pitch where Shelby players thought the opposing batter had been hit by a pitch, but there was no sign by the umpire and the runners kept going. Wease replaced by Eric Shuford on the mound. He's unable to stop the bleeding, giving up a RBI single to Jonathan Torres to make it 16-14.

After 5 innings (at 1:47 a.m.) -- Shelby has 16 runs on 13 hits and has committed 3 errors. Post 82 pitchers have issued 8 total walks.
Puerto Rico stands at 14 runs on 10 hits and also has committed three errors. Post 134 pitchers have allowed seven walks. Only six of the Puerto Rico runs are earned at this point.

Shelby loads the bases on three walks in the top of the sixth inning but leaves them stranded. After 5 1/2 innings, Post 82 still leads 16-14.

Puerto Rico creeps even closer in the bottom of the sixth. Two hits, and error and a walk make it 16-15. Shuford leaves the bases filled with runners, keeping Post 82 in front at 2:25 a.m.

In this, the Shelby baseball version of the Boston Marathon, Post 82 went for two in the top of the seventh inning. Singles by Seth Canipe and Kyle Kendrick, and a walk to Brett Wease, loaded the bases. Consecutive groundouts by Adam McFarland and Julian Ridings brought runners across to make it 18-15.

The Shelby defense posted its first scoreless inning since the first. A one-out line drive to center was caught by Seth Canipe. His throw to first baseman James Gold doubled off the runner to leave the score 18-15 after seven innings at 2:44 p.m.

Shelby loaded the bases in the top of the eighth but Puerto Rico got two straight strikeouts to keep the score at 18-15.

Post 82 dodged another bullet in the bottom of the eighth. James Gold snared a line drive and tagged the bat at first for a double play. Puerto Rico then loaded the bases up but Shuford induced a fly ball to Canipe in center to keep Post 134 at bay with the score still 18-15.

Through eight innings (at 3:15 a.m.), Shelby has left 15 runners on base and Puerto Rico has seen 14 of its runners stranded.

3-up and 3-down for Shelby after 8 1/2 innings. After 4 hours and 29 minutes, we're going to the bottom of the ninth with Post 82 in front, 18-15.

After 4 hours and 45 minutes, it came to an end. Winning pitcher Eric Shuford got a strikeout to strand two runners to complete Shelby's 18-15 win.
Shelby now plays Tuscaloosa, Ala., in the second round tonight at 8.

American Legion event delayed again

For the third time in the contest, the grounds crew at Keeter Stadium and Veterans Field rushed out to cover the pitcher's mound and batters' boxes with tarps as another sudden rainstorm disrupted play.
Randolph County still led 7-2 in the top of the eighth when another storm -- which didn't appear on the press box radar -- popped up. However, within 10 minutes the tarps were removed and the grounds crew was hard at work trying to get play restarted.
Pitcher and catcher for Leesburg, Ga., were already out on the field warming up for the restart at 9:50 p.m.
-- Alan Ford

Play resumes in legion series

The Randolph County-Leesburg (Ga.) legion contest resumed at approximately 9 p.m. following a second lengthy weather delay.
Because the later game between Shelby and Puerto Rico has been pushed back to 45 minutes after the completion of this contest, the official opening ceremonies have been cancelled this evening.
-- Alan Ford

Rain Delay at American Legion Regional Tournament

The weather is putting a damper on the first evening of play in the American Legion Southeast Regional at Shelby High's Keeter Stadium at Veterans Field.
In the first game of the evening session, weather stopped the contest between North Carolina champion Randolph County and Georgia champ Leesburg. Randolph was leading 7-0 in the sixth inning when players had to leave the field due to threatening skies at 6:37 p.m. Play resumes at 7:42 but delayed again two minutes later.
At 8 p.m., play had yet to resume.

Sports Editor will blog tonight

Star Sports Editor Alan Ford will blog from Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium during Shelby Post 82's opening game in the American Legion Southeast Regionals. Shelby takes on Guaynbo, Puerto Rico, Post 134 in the final game of the evening around 8 o'clock, following the opening ceremonies.