Columbia Post 19 opened the 2018 American Legion Tennessee State Tournament with an impressive 12-2 six-inning win over Old Hickory Post 91. Post 19 is continuing to hit the baseball and most importantly connecting on “timely-hits”. Friday’s game was also plagued with Post 91 walks and miscues.
Friday’s tournament opener started a little slow. Columbia entered the 3rd inning with a 1-0 lead. After the dust had cleared Post 19 had sent 12 batters to the plate producing 6 runs on 5 walks, 2 errors and a hit-batsman. Cole Flatt led off the frame with a walk and moved to third and was doubled in by Will McCall, his 11th for the year and 28th RBI. Matt Joslin and Andy Hale follow with walks and a couple of errors by the third baseman plates two more (Joslin & Hale). Jackson Cook and Nathan Massey on off errors are joined on the base pads by Jaylen Smith after he’s hit by a pitch. Back to back walks to Flatt and McCall scores 2 more and Columbia led 7-0 after 3.
Post 19 would put 2 more on the board in the 4th, 1 in the 5th and 2 more in the bottom of the 6th to walk off with the 10-run rule win. Post 91 scored their runs in the 4th as Dylan Hackett scores on a bases loaded walk to Drew Young. Old Hickory’s other run came in the 6th on a Colton Norris single plating David Smith.
Cam Kennedy picks up his 4th win of the year.
Columbia will play Pulaski Post 60 at 2PM Saturday. Post 91 will play Mt. Juliet Post 281 at 5PM. The American Legion State Tournament is being played at Trevecca Nazarene University on Murfreesboro Road in Nashville.