If not for a clutch hit by former Glenbrook star Jackson Waller, the two-time defending champion Bossier Phillies might be on their way home from the American Legion Baseball Mid-South Regional.
Waller’s one-out, two-RBI single in the bottom of the sixth have Bossier a 2-1 lead over Columbia, Tenn., and the Phillies went on to win by that score Friday in an elimination game in Gastonia, N.C.
Bossier faces the loser between this afternoon’s game between Bryant and Daphne, Ala., in another elimination game Saturday at 9:30 a.m.
The Phillies lost to Bryant 5-1 in the first round Thursday.
Bossier trailed Columbia 2-0 through five innings.
Former Benton standout Brody Turnipseed started the rally in the bottom of the sixth with a one-out single. Northwood star Nate Cervantes followed with a double and Turnipseed advanced to third.
Waller brought Turnipseed and former Benton standout Colton Birdsong, running for Cervantes, home with a single.
Columbia got a runner to second in the top of the seventh on a single and sacrifice bunt. Benton standout Slade Stephens struck out the next batter and the Columbia runner was caught stealing third for the final out.
Bossier had five hits. Former Benton star Cole Snell and former Evangel star Bradon Stephens had one single each.
Former Benton standout Tanner Webb went six innings on the mound. He scattered six hits, struck out eight and walked two.
Stephens pitched the final inning.