August 19, 2019

Game 12: Idaho completes sweep of Stripes pool to advance

By : Jeremy Field

Baseball

Game 12: Idaho completes sweep of Stripes pool to advance

Idaho Falls, Idaho Post 56 battled Randolph Co., Post 45 and advanced with a tough 4-3 win

Idaho Falls, Idaho Post 56 moved to 3-0 in pool play by holding on in a tough 4-3 win over Randolph Co., N.C., Post 45.

The win sends Idaho to the national semifinal at 7 p.m., eliminates North Carolina and allows Fargo, N.D., Post 2 to finish second in the pool. Fargo will play at 4 p.m., in the first semifinal.

Idaho had a few chances early. In the top of the first, a runner reached third with one out but a popout and a strikeout by Trevor Marsh got North Carolina out of trouble.

North Carolina got a leadoff hit from Harris Jackson to start the bottom of the frame and Trevor Marsh lined a double to move him to third. Spencer Lanier's sacrifice fly brought home Jackson and gave the game its first run.

Idaho left two on in the top of the third and the offense was busy again in the fourth.

They tied it up, then with runners on second and third and one out, a fly ball into foul ground forced first baseman Spencer Lanier to range over and make an over-the-shoulder grab. He wheeled and fired home to barely get the runner at home, keeping the lead 1-0.

In the fifth, Idaho broke through for two more to take the lead. Bruer Webster hit a one-out double to the right-field wall and came around on an Alex Cortez single. Randon Hostert and Tavyn Lords hit consecutive singles to bring home Cortez.

Pinch hitter Kai Howell, Webster and Cortez hit consecutive singles to bring home another run to make the lead 4-1.

North Carolina made it interesting in the bottom of the frame, getting two hits, a wild pitch, ground out and sacrifice fly to make the lead 4-3.

Idaho closed the door to seal the win, however. Jace Hanson's five innings of one-run ball were followed by two innings from Andrew Gregersen.

“That was a good team but we had to fight it out,” Cortez said. “It’s unbelievable. This field, this setup, it’s just awesome to be here,” Cortez said.

Destrehan, La., Post 366 won the Stars pool and will face North Dakota at 4 p.m., on ESPNU Monday. Following that, Idaho will face Danville, Ill., Post 210 in the other semifinal.

Members of Fargo, N.D. Post 2 warm up prior to the continuation of a rain-delayed Game 11 of the 2019 American Legion World Series against Shrewsbury, Mass. Post 397 at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. Photo by Ryan Young/The American Legion

Fargo, N.D. Post 2 warm up prior to the continuation of a rain-delayed Game 11 of the 2019 American Legion World Series against Shrewsbury, Mass. Post 397 at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. Photo by Ryan Young/The American Legion

Brandt Kolpack of Fargo, N.D. Post 2 celebrates after tagging out Ron Franklin of Destrehan, La. Post 366 in Game 13 of the 2019 American Legion World Series at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. Photo by Chet Strange/The American Legion

Ron Franklin of Destrehan, La. Post 366 has an injury tended to by assistant manager Kenneth Goodlett during Game 13 of the 2019 American Legion World Series against Fargo, N.D. Post 2 at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C.. Photo by Ryan Young/The American Legion

Taylor Parrett and Jacob McKeever of Fargo, N.D. Post 2 hang out in the dugout during a rain delay during Game 13 of the 2019 American Legion World Series against Destrehan, La. Post 366 at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. Photo by Ryan Young/The American Legion

Members of Destrehan, La. Post 366 joke around with one of their bat boys while waiting out a rain delay during Game 13 of the 2019 American Legion World Series against Fargo, N.D. Post 2 at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. Photo by Ryan Young/The American Legion

Boone Wease and Caleb Costner, bat boys for Fargo, N.D. Post 2 play in the dugout during Game 11 of the 2019 American Legion World Series at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. Photo by Chet Strange/The American Legion

Zach Sandy of Fargo, N.D. Post 2 fields a ball during Game 11 of the 2019 American Legion World Series against Shrewsbury, Mass. Post 39 at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. Photo by Ryan Young/The American Legion

Colton Frey and his Fargo, N.D. Post 2 teammates in the dugout celebrate a run during Game 13 of the 2019 American Legion World Series against Destrehan, La. Post 366 at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. Photo by Chet Strange/The American Legion

Ron Franklin of Destrehan, La. Post 366 plays a game with his teammates during a rain delay in Game 13 of the 2019 American Legion World Series against Fargo, N.D. Post 2 at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. Photo by Chet Strange/The American Legion

Brandt Kolpack of Fargo, N.D. Post 2 fist bumps his teammates after the final out of Game 11 of the 2019 American Legion World Series against Shrewsbury, Mass. Post 397 at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. Photo by Ryan Young/The American Legion

Mason Ecker of Danville, Ill. Post 210 pitches in the third inning of Game 14 of the 2019 American Legion World Series against Idaho Falls, Idaho Post 56 on at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. Photo by Ryan Young/The American Legion

Harris Jackson of Randolph Co., N.C. Post 45 fields a ball in an attempt to tag out Bruer Webster of Idaho Falls, Idaho Post 56 as he steals third during Game 12 of the 2019 American Legion World Series at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. Photo by Ryan Young/The American Legion

Chandler Ibach of Fargo, N.D. Post 2 celebrates in Game 13 of the 2019 American Legion World Series at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. Photo by Chet Strange/The American Legion

Fargo, N.D. Post 2 celebrates after their win in Game 13 of the 2019 American Legion World Series on Monday, August 19, 2019 at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. Photo by Chet Strange/The American Legion

Randon Hostert of Idaho Falls, Idaho Post 56 hits a pitch in the third inning of Game 14 of the 2019 American Legion World Series against Danville, Ill. Post 210 at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C., . Photo by Ryan Young/The American Legion

Nich Layland of Idaho Falls, Idaho Post 56 attempts to catch a ball in Game 14 of the 2019 American Legion World Series at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. Photo by Chet Strange/The American Legion

A scoreboard shows the time of 1:10am during Game 14 of the 2019 American Legion World Series between Danville, Ill. Post 210 and Idaho Falls, Idaho Post 56 which went into extra innings following a lengthy rain delay at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. Photo by Ryan Young/The American Legion

Nich Layland of Idaho Falls, Idaho Post 56 celebrates with his teammates after hitting a walk-off single to win Game 14 of the 2019 American Legion World Series defeating Danville, Ill. Post 210 at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. Photo by Ryan Young/The American Legion

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