Post 109 marches on to state tourney

Post 109's Bubba Wright homered in the series-clinching win over Lancaster Friday. Trevin Taber's bat keyed another dramatic win for surging Post 109.

Taber homered twice and knocked in seven runs as Post 109 advanced to its third straight American Legion state tournament with a 17-7 win in the decisive game five of its series with Lancaster on Friday.

"Trevin is one of the players who was on the 2005 team that went to the state tournament," Post 109 manager Jeff Osment said. "He's been through the battles. He's just very deserving of what he's accomplished."

Taber wasn't the only offensive threat. McCrae Norton and Bubba Wright also homered. Norton finished with four hits, including two doubles and three RBIs.

Post 109's Dustin Byars was the recipient of the offensive fireworks. Byars, who also got the win in game two of the series, pitched all seven innings and allowed 11 hits when the game was called because of rain.

Gaffney got things going early with two runs in the first inning. After Norton doubled, Taber socked a two-run homer. Gaffney went up 4-0 in the third when Taber singled and Wright belted a two-run homer. Lancaster battled back with three runs in the third and two more in the fourth to lead 5-4. But Post 109 put the game away with three runs in the fifth and six more in the sixth inning.

"I liked how we responded," Osment said. "We got behind that one time but we battled back."

Ricky Brannon had three hits and Dylan Jolley had two for Post 109.

Gaffney, which pounded out 20 hits, capped the scoring with three runs in the top of the seventh.

Osment and Post 109 will now focus on the 8-team state tournament, which begins Wednesday at Winthrop University in Rock Hill.

"It's an honor to be going back," Osment said. "The kids are very deserving."