Post 109 outlasts Union

Post 109's McCrae Norton celebrates after scoring a run in the bottom of the third. Norton reached base on a triple. Another strong relief performance by Bobby Jackson led to another win for Gaffney Post 109 on Monday.

Jackson allowed just one run in 3 2/3 innings to help Post 109 rally for an 11-9 win over Union.

"He's been the guy in the pen that we've needed the most," Gaffney manager Jeff Osment said. "He's going to compete."

Gaffney improves to 12-6 and will clinch second place with a win over Spartanburg today.

After Union scored three runs in the top of the sixth to go ahead 8-7, Gaffney answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Jackson helped his own cause by reaching on a walk, advancing to second on a passed ball and scoring on Justin Phillips' RBI single. Phillips then scored on a passed ball to give Gaffney a 9-8 lead.

Union tied it in the seventh, but Gaffney responded quickly again, scoring two runs to take the lead for good.

Bryan Parsons reached on an error, stole second and scored on Cameron Byars' double. Byars stole home for Gaffney's final run.

Fittingly, there were some fireworks as a fan, coach and Union player were ejected for arguing. Several other Union players glared at Gaffney starter Jake Watson after being hit by a pitch.

Philllips had two hits and two RBIs, while McCrae Norton continued to swing a hot bat with a triple and single for Post 109.

Trevin Taber doubled and tripled and knocked in two runs. Watson also had two runs for Gaffney.

Gaffney scored two runs in the bottom of the third on RBIs by Taber and Watson to lead 4-2. Union jumped on top 5-4 in the top of the fourth before Michael Hughey had a big two-run single to give Gaffney a 7-5 lead in the bottom of the inning.