ALWS Game 3: Alabama rolls past Massachusetts

After surviving a grueling final day of the Southeast Regional on Sunday, Troy (Ala.) Post 70 started and finished fast in its 2024 American Legion World Series opener at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C., on Thursday.

Troy scored four times in the first inning, then — after Hudson (Mass.) Post 100 had the tying run at the plate in the fourth — wriggled out of a jam and followed up with a five-run inning in a 10-1 victory in Game 3 of the ALWS.

“I felt like we started off on the best note we could,” said Post 70 coach Ross Hixon, whose team didn’t lead in 16 innings in last Sunday’s two regional games against Wayne County (N.C.) until the final pitch to clinch the title. “The guy we threw gave us a good shot to make plays defensively with some ground balls when he needed them and pitched his game.

“It was just a great start overall.”

Troy starter Cole Hewitt went four innings, yielding five hits, one unearned run and two walks while striking out four and coaxing Hudson ground ball double plays in the first three innings. Easton Walsh (2 innings, 2 strikeouts) and Easton Dean (1 inning) finished up the effort for Troy, which won the 2022 ALWS and is making its third straight ALWS appearance.

Blake Wynn (3 hits), Brady Richardson (2 hits, double, 2 RBIs), Cody Walsh (2 hits, 1 RBI), Gunner Justice (2 hits, 3 RBIs) and Haze McCorkel (double, 2 RBIs) led Troy’s 11-hit offense.

Dan DeMirjian (2 hits, double) led Hudson’s five-hit offense.

Hudson (29-9) had runners on second and third with one out in the fourth when it trailed 4-1 before Hewitt got two strikeouts sandwiched around a walk to load the bases to escape the inning without allowing any runs.

“When you watch baseball, you know how games can go and the rollercoaster and waves you have to ride,” Hixon said. “That was a big moment for us. So credit to Cole Hewitt for getting big strikeouts to get out of that inning and then credit our offense for responding after that.”

Walsh and McCorkel had RBI hits in the first inning, then Richardson had a two-run double and Justice a two-run single in the five-run fourth inning for Troy (31-5).

Both teams return to action on Friday as Hudson meets defending ALWS champion League City (Tex.) Post 554 at 4 p.m. and Troy faces Fargo (N.D.) Post 2 at 7 p.m.