American Legion: Post 167 stays alive at 24th District Tournament

Posted July 13, 2015 11:00 pm

Staff Report

The Harrisburg American Legion Post 167 baseball team rallied from three runs down in the bottom of the seventh to knock off Fairfield 6-5 in Sunday's 24th District Baseball Tournament.

Harrisburg cranked out six straight hits in the seventh as Patrick Bittle led the inning off with a single, followed by Drew Woolcott and with one out, Austin Hefner singled in a run. Bryce Emery then followed with a bunt to load the bases and Matthew Phipps singled in the second run. Noah Vallette then put the game away with a walk off double to left center to give Harrisburg the win.

"We just could not get anything going until the last tinning and getting the leadoff hitter (Bittle) on was key to the comeback and the offense just exploded after that," Post 167 head coach Doug Emery said. "We simply got outplayed there for six innings and give Fairfield credit, they played great making the key defensive plays the whole game."

Harrisburg ended the game with nine hits, six of those coming in the last inning as Vallette and Woolcott each had two hits. Hefner, Emery, Phipps, Bittle and Britton Riden each had one.

On the bump, Emery threw four innings, allowing four runs on six hits, while striking out five.

"It was hot and give Bryce credit for hanging in there, battling in the heat and keeping us close," Emery said.

Hefner got the start, giving way to the heat, allowing no runs with two strikeouts. Phipps finished the last inning, striking out three and allowing one unearned run.

"After they got the last run in the top of the seventh making it 5-2, I wasn't too sure we would be able to make the comeback but Patrick really jumpstarted us with his leadoff hit in the bottom of the seventh," Emery added. "I am proud of the team effort especially to not give up. Not being able to play the last week and half due to the weather really hurt as well."

Harrisburg was scheduled to take on Carrier Mills Monday night at 5 p.m. in the district tournament that barring any more rainouts will still be a double-elimination tournament.

In the other game Sunday, Albion knocked off Metropolis 7-4.

24th District American Legion Tournament Schedule

Sunday, July 12 Game 1: Harrisburg 6, Fairfield 5 Game 2: Albion 7, Metropolis 4 Monday, July 13 Game 3: Harrisburg 5, Carrier Mills 1 Game 4: Carmi 11, Albion 1 Tuesday, July 14 Game 5: Fairfield vs. Metropolis, 5 p.m. Game 6: Carrier Mills vs. Albion, 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 15 Game 7: Harrisburg vs. Carrier Mills, 5 p.m. Game 8: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 8 p.m. Thursday, July 16 Game 9: Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 winner, 5 p.m. Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 8 p.m. Friday, July 17 Game 11 (If Needed: Loser Game 10 if First Loss, 6 p.m.