NEWBERRY — Chapin Newberry Post 193/24 earned themselves a play-in spot for the American Legion playoffs with a crucial split in their doubleheader on the last day of the regular season. Chapin Newberry(7-10, 5-7 league play) defeated Anderson Post 14(8-11, 6-6 league play) by the score of 3-2 in game two of their doubleheader on Thursday, July 9 at home.
Chapin Newberry returned back to their home field for the summer at Smith Road Complex on the campus of Newberry College in hopes that it wouldn’t be their last game of the summer. They started a three-game series against Anderson Post on Monday, July 6 to finish out the regular season. The game on Monday was delayed due to the weather, so they had to finish that game and play the final game of the series.
Anderson Post won the first game of the doubleheader 4-3 and won the second game of the series 4-2, which was played on Tuesday, July 7 in Anderson, S.C. The two wins secured a spot for Anderson Post in the playoffs, but it still gave Chapin Newberry a chance to fight for a playoffs position as well.
Colby Livingston got the start on the mound for Chapin Newberry Post in the second game. He had a strong start to the game and an overall strong outing. He didn’t give up anything in the first inning and Chapin Newberry’s offense couldn’t produce anything either, so the two teams were scoreless headed into the second inning.
Anderson Post would get on the board first at the top of the second inning and take a 1-0 lead. Livingston would limit the damage and get out of the inning.
The visitors would add to their at the top of the third inning. Chapin Newberry Post would commit an error that led to a triple on what should’ve been a single. Livingston would give up a double that would bring a second run in for Anderson Post and give them a 2-0 lead. The home team would limit the damage and get out of the inning again with only giving up just one run.
Anderson Post’s defense would run into some trouble of their own at the bottom of the third inning. Raleigh Salters would reach base with a single to get things started for Chapin Newberry. Then, two more base runners would get on after a walk and a hitter being hit by a pitch. Kaedyn Harris would bring two runners in for two scores after he smashed a ball over the left fielder’s head to the outfield fence that was a few feet away from being a home run.
The two teams would be tied 2-2 at the top of the fourth inning. The game wouldn’t be tied for much longer as Chapin Newberry would take the lead at the bottom of the fifth inning.
Salters would get his second hit of the game with a RBI double to give the home team a 3-2 lead. Anderson Post went to the bullpen to limit the damage, and they were able to get out of the inning trailing by just one run.
Chapin Newberry would hold onto their slim lead as Lawson Lawrence came in at the top of sixth inning in relief efforts and closed out the game. The Mid-Carolina Rebels’ pitching duo would combine for seven strikeouts and allowed just four hits. Livingston would get the win and gave his team five strong innings.
“It’s been up and down, but on paper we have a really good group. We have a roster that can win a lot of games but the paper don’t play the games[laughing]. I am proud of the way we came back tonight. After losing the first one and the way they jumped out to a lead in the second one, we could’ve easily rolled over and died. I am proud of them for coming back and giving us a chance to play on Monday,” said head coach Ryan Stoudemire.
Chapin Newberry Post 193/24 will head to Camden, S.C. to face Horry Legion in a do or die play-in game for one of the last playoff spots. The first pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. on Monday, July 13.