The first round of the American Legion 17U State Tournament began on Friday night for Post 70. After a tight pitchers duel, Post 70 fell to Florence 2-1.

“I thought we played well. We didn’t have many opportunities in the game, but the ones we did we flat out missed them,” said head coach Nick Collins. “Honestly you have to give their pitcher some credit. We struggled but he had a great outing.”

Both teams were led by their starting pitching all night long, Florence was a little bit stronger than John Kelso and Post 70.

Kelso started for Post 70 and through a complete game, through his seven innings the starter only allowed two runs on just three hits.

“He gave us a chance to win. We have had a lot of confidence in him all summer long,” Collins said. “We talked about finishing better, and I think he did that tonight. He did a really good job letting up only three hits.”

After both teams went scoreless in the first inning, Florence was able to bunch some hits together in the second and score the games first run.

Kelso walked a couple batters in the inning and the run scored on a base hit for Florence.

Both of the game’s starters went on cruise control for the next three innings, and neither offense could buy a base runner let alone a hit.

It took an unlucky break for Post 70 in the fifth inning when a wild throw by the catcher trying throw out a base runner attempting to steal third to turn the game around. The throw sailed over the third basemen’s head allowing the second run of the game to score.

Troy was able to push across a run in the sixth inning but a base running mistake cost Post 70 the game’s tying run.

Logan Thompson led off the inning with a sharp double. Hunter Jones reached base when he lifted the ball to the outfield that was dropped, driving in Thompson.

After a sacrifice bunt by Kelso advanced both Jones and Mackenzie Hicks who reached base on a fielders choice, up a base Jack Knight grounded out to the pitcher for the second out. On the throw to first, Hicks got caught in a rundown and was thrown out to end the threat.

Still down a run in the seventh inning, Post 70 had one more chance to tie the game or even win it. Lane Mitchell led off the inning with a single, after a failed bunt attempt to get Mitchell to second, Thompson hit a single to get the tying run in scoring position.

Andrew Griggs pinched hit and went down swinging, Thompson came up and flew out to center to end the game.

Post 70 will be back in action this afternoon at 2:30 in an elimination game.