By SCOTT POWELL

Ledger Sports Writer

spowell@gaffneyledger.com

Travis Adair leads Post 109 offensively into the finals with a .598 batting average and 35 RBIs. The Gaffney American Legion Post

109 team will be the number one seed

when the state baseball tournament

gets underway on Wednesday at

Legion Field in Greenwood.

Post 109 (19-3) won the Legion VI

championship and is the only team to

have swept its opponents in the first

two playoff rounds. The team defeated

Lancaster last week to earn its first

trip to the state finals since Post 109

was reformed in 1987.

In addition to Post 109, the Upper

State bracket includes Irmo (19-3),

host Greenwood (13-11), and

Greenville (17-6). Greenwood earned

an automatic bid as the host team.

The Lower State teams are Sumter

(25-2), Cheraw (19-9), Conway (21-6) or .598 Florence (14-9).

The winner of today’s Lake CityGeorgetown playoff game will play Florence to determine the fourth seed in the Lower State.

Post 109 Athletic Director Jerry “Jug” Wallace has arranged for WAGI to broadcast the Post 109 games live for Cherokee County residents on 105.3.

“We want to show our appreciation to all of our fans for their support this season. We realize there are some fans who will not be able to attend the state finals because of their work schedules,” Wallace said. “In appreciation of our fans’ support, we have worked with WAGI so the games can be broadcast for Gaffney residents.”

The Post 109 players will leave Gaffney on Tuesday morning and hold a practice session in Greenwood before checking into their hotel. The team will attend a banquet that evening and begin playing games on Wednesday.

Tournament host Greenwood is expected to be Post 109’s opponent for the first game of the double elimination tournament.

Post 109 manager Jeff Osment has worked with assistant coaches Jeff Mages, Travis Clary and Brandon Gardner to lead the players in their championship season.

Mages was only able to coach a couple of games before he was deployed with his U.S. Army Reserve unit to Afghanistan.

“We miss Jeff,” Wallace said. “Our prayers go out to him and his family.”

Wallace praised the Post 109 players for their efforts this season.

“The guys understand and have played their roles this season. We have so much pitching depth on our team,” he said. “These are a good group of players who work really well together.” Gaffney High pitcher Justin Sarratt has been the staff ace with a 7-0 record.

The bullpen is led by his high school teammates Brock White and Preston Byars. Both White and Byars have been outstanding in their long relief appearances for Post 109 during the playoffs.

Second baseman Travis Adair of Broome High has led Post 109 offensively with a .598 batting average and 35 RBIs. Sarratt is hitting .380.