Down and nearly out

Photo by LARRY HILLIARD Post 109's John Michaels receives congratulations from Bubba Wright after scoring the team's first run of the game agianst Irmo on Tuesday. The Gaffney Post 109 American Legion team finds itself in an unusual position this early in the playoffs - on the verge of elimination.

Gaffney, which has advanced to three straight state tournaments, trails 0-2 to Irmo in the best-offive, second-round series after an 8-3 loss Tuesday at Commissioners Field.

Shea Solomon and Kaden Watson each homered as Irmo took the opener in a slugfest at Dutch Fork High School on Monday, 14-10.

"In the first game the pitching didn't hold its own and tonight it was just the opposite. Jake Watson threw a great game but just ran out of gas," Gaffney Post 109 coach Jeff Osment said. "Offensively, we just didn't do a good job. We haven't been real aggressive and competitive."

Watson was tagged with the loss despite pitching effectively. He allowed five earned runs on 11 hits in 7 1/3 innings of work.

John Michaels relieved Watson and went the rest of the way.

Post 109 jumped on top 1-0 on Tuesday when John Michaels doubled and came home on Bobby Jackson's single.

But the lead was shortlived as Irmo brought out the long ball again to go up 3-1 on a solo shot and a 2-run homer.

Irmo made it 4-1 on a successful squeeze play in the seventh and tacked on four more runs in the eighth.

Gaffney had some fight left, loading the bases in the bottom of the eighth on singles by John Michaels, Michael Hughey and Jackson. Bubba Wright walked to force in a run. Another walk to Jason Biershenk brought in Gaffney's final run of the game.

Jackson had three hits and Michaels had two hits and scored a pair of runs for Post 109.

On Monday, Post 109 erased an 8-0 deficit to pull within a run before Irmo struck for six runs in the seventh to ice the game.

Bryan Parsons got Post 109 back in the game with a grand slam in the third inning to bring Gaffney within 8-5. Gaffney added runs in the fourth and seventh innings to close the gap to 8-7.

But Irmo took advantage of four walks to score six runs in the bottom of the seventh to regain the momentum.

Parsons had another homer in the ninth for his sixth RBI. He was 3 for 5 for the game.

Irmo roughed up Gaffney starter Jason Biershenk, who allowed 10 runs and 10 hits over 6 1/3 innings. Solomon did the most damage against Gaffney pitching, with a single, double and homer and three RBIs and three runs scored.

Gaffney faces an elimination game today at Irmo. Jackson is expected to get the start.