Six-run eighth delivered a 7-3 win
Righty Joe Brinda won a second-round pitchers' duel.
A six-run eighth-inning rally carried the Post 334 American Legion baseball team from a 2-1 deficit into a 7-2 lead and eventual 7-3 victory in the second round of 10th District play at Veterans Field in Minnetonka.
Behind right-hander Joe Brinda, Post 334 took a 1-0 lead into the seventh after Josh Slappy Jensen singled home Sammy Smith from second in the second. Brinda, however, was tagged by a two-out, two-run ground rule double in the seventh that quickly overturned the 1-0 lead and changed it into the 2-1 deficit.
Brinda righted himself and finished the game by pitching a perfect eighth, then a solid ninth, though he gave up a single and run-scoring triple. In between his teammate generated a one-out bottom-of-the-eighth rally that started when shortstop Tony Remund was hit by pitch and Mike Latta walked. Brandon Flippen tied the game with a single into the right-field corner before Jeremy Oakley a ball into left field that took a crazy bounce by the Fridley outfielder to the fence.
Oakley had a triple and Post 334 a two-run 4-2 lead.
But that was not all. Smith picked up his third hit of the game — a run-scoring double — to make it 5-2 and after Bo Daniels singled, designated hitter Luke Hite doubled home two more runs to cap the rally.
Brinda, who gave up seven hits and just one walk, threw 113 pitches for the complete, nine-inning game. He also struck out five Fridley batters.
For more photos by Alan Williams of the game check out: http://www.machineautomationproducts.net/transfer/2010_legion_baseball/Minnetonka%20Fridley/
Posted: July 23rd, 2010