Blacksburg Minor League All-Stars tie for 5th at tourney

By LARRY HILLIARDLedger Sports Editorlarry@gaffneyledger.com

The Blacksburg Minor League All-Stars made a strong showing at the district tournament, finishing with a 3-2 record and tying for fifth place in the 14-team field.

Blacksburg beat Foothills, 13-2, Dacusville, 11-9, and Greenwood No. 1, 10-9. The all-stars lost 12-2 to Anderson and to Greenwood No. 1, 13-4, in an elimination game.

In Blacksburg’s win over Foothills, Bradley Norman allowed just one hit and struck out nine. Norman also was a force with the bat with two hits, including a triple.

A.J. Greer added two doubles and Cody Williams, Evan McCurry, Jacob Gibson, Austin Lanier and Jake Morgan all hit safely for Blacksburg.

Blacksburg led for most of the way until Anderson took the lead for good in the fifth.

Norman paced Blacksburg with two hits, including a triple. Gibson, Williams and Lanier all had a hit.

Against Dacusville, Taylor Raines started before giving way to McCurry, who didn’t allow a run. Lanier struck out two and allowed three runs before Gibson struck out three in the sixth to seal the win.

Lanier had two hits, while McCurry, Jeremy Holden, Morgan, Greer, Norman and Williams all hit safely. Tyler Cobb added a triple.

Norman tossed a four-hitter and struck out eight in Blackburg’s win over Greenwood No. 3.

Blacksburg rallied from a 2-run deficit in the bottom of the sixth to pull out the win. Holden tied the game with a base hit to center before Raines knocked in the game-winning run.

Norman, Williams and Holden each had two hits while Gibson, McCurry and Greer all hit safely.

In its elimination loss to Greenwood No. 1, Norman reached safely in four plate appearances while Lanier, Gibson, Holden, McCurry, Williams and Raines hit safely.