A STORY FROM MIKE MORRISON
THE MARIETTA (GEORGIA)TIMES
Interruption: Rain postpones American Legion baseball game
BEVERLY – Mother Nature ended up claiming what looked like would be a American Legion baseball slugfest of epic per portions Thursday night between Meigs Post 39 and Beverly/Lowell Post 389/750.
With Beverly/Lowell trailing 10-9 and the tying run on second base in the fourth inning, the game was postponed when a thunderstorm rolled through the area.
Both clubs came into the game very short on pitching, and both offenses took full advantage.
Meigs set the tone when the first three hitters reached in the top of the first on a basehit, an error, and a hit batsman.
Beverly/Lowell starting pitcher Scott Pettit minimized the damage by getting a force out and then an inning-ending double play to allow Meigs only one run.
Tyler Proctor continued his red hot Legion season by crushing a long two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the first, and Trey Engle added an RBI single to give Beverly/Lowell a 3-1 advantage.
Meigs got a run back in the top of the second on a wild pitch, and Meigs starting pitcher Josh Shook retired the side in order in the last of the second.
Meigs took advantage of Pettit’s wildness in the third to score five times and take a 7-3 lead.
After three of the first four hitters reached base on free passes, catcher Billy Duvall singled in a pair of runs, and Shook helped himself with a two-run bomb just inside the fair pole in left field.
Proctor led off the Beverly/Lowell third with his second homer of the game, and what would have been his seventh long ball of the young Legion season.
"Tyler Proctor is having a phenomenal season," said Beverly/Lowell head coach Todd Engle.
"He gives you the feeling that each swing he is capable of hitting one out of any ballpark."
After back-to-back singles by Landon Kern and Engle, Marcus Wise got one run in on a fielder’s choice and an RBI double by Pettit closed the gap to 7-6.
Meigs came right back in the top of the fourth and scored three more times to go back up by four at 10-6.
As the sky darkened, Beverly/Lowell came firing back in the last of the fourth.
Craig Davis was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and Donald Hilverding followed with a walk.
Proctor and Kern followed with back-to-back doubles to make it 10-9 and with the rain falling harder, and lightning flashing in the area, the game was halted.
Engle was disappointed that his club didn’t get the chance to complete the comeback.
"It just felt like one of those games that we would find a way to win," said Engle.
"We just have to build on the positives and try again tomorrow."
The 5-6 Beverly/Legion team will be right back in action today with a twin bill in Cambridge at 5:30 p.m.
Post 39 (Meigs) 10 Post 389/750 (Beverly Lowell) 9 (PPD RAIN)
Meigs Post 39 115 3 10-6-1
Beverly/Lowell Post 389/750 303 3 9-8-4
Top Hitters: Meigs: Josh Shook 1-2, HR,R,2RBI, Billy Duvall 1-2, R, 2RBI, Adam Pape 1-2, 2R, Trey McKinney 1-2, R, Andrew Benedum 1-3, R, Ryan Payne 1-3, R, Ryan Taylor 0-0, R, Tyler Roush 0-1, RBI, Heath Dettwiller 0-1, 2R, RBI. Beverly/ Lowell: Tyler Proctor 3-3, 3R, 4RBI, 2HR,2B, Landon Kern 2-2, 2R, RBI, Trey Engle 2-2, R, RBI, Scott Pettit 1-2, RBI, Donald Hilverding 0-1, 2R, Marcus Wise 0-1, RBI, Craig Davis 0-1, R. Pitching: Meigs: J. Shook 3IP, 8H, 9R, 9ER, 3BB, 3K, Beverly/ Lowell: Pettit 3IP, 4H, 7R, 6ER, 5BB, K, Ian Zoller IP, 2H, 3R, 2ER.
