Photos by Bill Battle, Washington Missourian
Former Glenbrook star Easton Sanders and former Minden standout Brody Bower are headed back to the American Legion World Series with the Bossier Phillies.
Louisiana champion Bossier defeated Tennessee state champion Columbia 10-1 and 5-3 Sunday to win the Mid-South Regional in Washington, Mo., for the second year in a row.
Sanders, named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, smacked two home runs and had four RBI in the first game as the Phillies forced a winner-take-all game for the title.
He drew three walks in the second game. His walk with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the sixth gave Bossier the 5-3 lead.
Bower started and won the Phillies’ first game against Mississippi champion Pontotoc. He reached the pitch-count limit in that game.
Sunday’s victories avenged Bossier’s only loss in the eight-team tournament 2-1 Friday.
Bossier got only two hits in the second game. But the Phillies took advantage of nine walks, a couple of fielding errors and pitching mistakes.
After winning the first game in a rout, Bossier had to rally for the victory after Columbia took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth.
Columbia’s run came with one out on a line drive to left field and runners at second and third. But the Phillies kept it a one-run game with a double play. Left fielder Cole Snell threw a strike to catcher Griffin Sibley and Sibley tagged the runner out trying to score from second. Sibley immediately threw to second baseman Hudson Brignac, who tagged the batter out.
Bossier regained the lead in the bottom of the inning.
Abel Thetford drew a walk with one out. Sibley singled. Thetford reached third on an error and Sibley advanced to second.
Case Jorden walked to load the bases. Jackson Jones was hit by a pitch with the count full, tying the game at 3. Brignac and Sanders drew back-to-back walks to make it 5-3.
Gavin Brint, who pitched a complete game, then sat the final six batters down in order. He had two strikeouts in the seventh, including one to end the game.
Bossier scored first in the top of the third. Sibley reached on an error and Jorden singled. Jorden advanced to third on a fielder’s choice that resulted in an out at home. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Snell.
The Phillies made it 2-0 in the fourth. Brock Laird walked and advanced to second on a groundout by Thetford. Laird advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball with two outs snd Sibley at the plate.
Columbia then tied it on a two-run home run by Cody Underwood, setting up the dramatic final three innings.
Brint scattered seven hits with five strikeouts and no walks. Sanders drew three walks. Thetford and Jorden drew two each.
The first game was delayed about 45 minutes by rain. There was another delay after the top of the sixth as a line of thunderstorms went through. By that time Bossier had a 6-1 lead.
The Phillies had 10 hits. Jones went 4-for-4 with three doubles and two RBI. Dillon Braxton had a double.
Thetford had two RBI. Snell had one.
Kade Bryant pitched a complete game. He allowed six hits, struck out five and walked two.