holds on for 6-4 victory Wednesday

By STEVEN G. WATSON

Sports Editor

With a quick start on offense and a strong showing on defense, the Post 70 Junior Legion team rolled to a 6-4 victory over Slocomb Wednesday.

The team started by showing their defensive prowess behind starting pitcher Justin Sims. The lefty sat the Slocomb batters down in order through the first three innings, allowing only one to reach on a walk, but promptly gunning him down at first on a pick-off play.

The early offense was supplied by Jason Burgans who drilled a two-run shot on a rope over the right-field fence in the first inning. The hit came just after a timely stand-up double by Sims with one out started the inning.

Druid Conrad added an RBI single to finish out the first and two more runs were plated in the second on another RBI single by Clint Pugh and a fielders choice that scored a run with the bases loaded.

Troy had a great chance to increase its lead in the third after getting back-to-back singles from Conrad and Bill Hughes to start the inning, but got caught at the plate trying to pull off a double steal. They were then doubled up at second after the Slocomb center fielder made a fantastic catch on the run in the gap robbing Layton Sanders of an almost assured double.

Sims was taken out and replaced by fellow left-hander Wesley Wright to save him for the weekend’s games and Wesley started out with his own one-two-three inning in the fourth notching two strikeouts.

The lefty got touched in the top of the fifth as Slocomb notched its first hit of the game and ended up plating three runs on a single, a double and three walks.

Wesley maintained his composure, however, and was able to end the threat with a strikeout, his third of the inning. He then allowed only one more run the rest of the way, on one hit, and retired the side in order in the seventh to end the game.

Rodderick Burden accounted for the only other Troy run after reaching on an error and scoring on a wild pitch.

Wesley also finished with a double while Wes Johnson accounted for a single in the sixth.

Next up for the squad will be a date with Hartford Friday and Auburn on Saturday. Both games will be held at Pace-Riddle field on the Troy State campus unless a conflict arises, in which case it will be moved to CHHS.

Friday the two teams kick things off at 6 p.m. and Saturday the two will play a double-header starting at 1 p.m.