Photo by LARRY HILLIARD Post 109's Dylan Jolley, shown heading safely to third base, and his teammates will travel to Irmo today to open the second round of the state playoffs. Gaffney Post 109 manager Jeff Osment prefers a challenge.

He'll likely get one when his team travels today to Irmo to open the second round of the playoffs. Gaffney will host game two on Tuesday, with Irmo hosting game three on Wednesday. Game four, if necessary, will be played at Commissioners Field. Irmo would host winner-take-all game five on Friday.

Although Osment isn't familiar with Irmo's players, he knows one thing - they have talent.

"They won their league and they have about the same team that made the playoffs last year and took Spartanburg to five games," he said. "I'm looking forward to an entertaining series.

Post 109 batters have caught fire at just the right time.

They completed a three-game sweep by outscoring Fort Mill by a combined 44-5.

Lee Gerwick, John Michaels, Bryan Parsons, Michael Hughey, McCrae Norton, Bobby Jackson, Bubba Wright and Spencer Epps each had multiple hit games against Fort Mill.

"We were selective and when we got our pitches we made the most of it," Osment said. "That was the story of the series."

The story of this series will likely be pitching.

"In round one, there were a couple of innings where we didn't pitch well," Osment said. "That will be the key to this series. We are going to have to pitch better and throw more strikes."

Jason Biershenk, who allowed just three hits in game one against Fort Mill, will start today for Post 109.

"He's thrown the ball well for us," Osment said.

Using Biershenk as the game one starter also allows Osment to use the talented pitcher in relief if the series goes long.

Osment said he's undecided on the game two starter.

Gaffney joins fellow League VI members Spartanburg and Inman in advancing to the second round of the state tournament.

Osment said that shows the strength of the league.

"That speaks to how strong our league is," he said. "We play some pretty good baseball up here."

Whether it's good enough to beat Irmo will be decided this week.

"We know Irmo is a good team," he said. "But you have to play everybody in the state anyway to win the state tournament."