Stayin' alive
Complete game by Jackson helps Post 109 force series back to Gaffney
By JOE L. HUGHES II Ledger Staff Writer joe@gaffneyledger.com

Post 109 's Bobby Jackson slides under a tag during a recent game. Jackson was a key contributor in the team's win Thursday, striking out 13 Irmo batters in addition to a number of clutch hits.

Post 109 pitcher Bobby Jackson has played in clutch moments in the past two years , being called by manager Jeff Osment to bail the team out of tough situations.

With his squad down 2-0 in a best-of-five series with Irmo, Osment felt that time was now.

Jackson threw a complete game Thursday night, striking out 13 Irmo batters in a 10-9 victory to extend the series to a fourth game tonight.

"Jackson did a tremendous job for us," Osment said. "Though he struggled a bit early and his defense let him down at times, he stuck with it and helped us come out of here with a win."

Post 109 came out like a team with its back against the wall in the first inning, forcing Irmo into several mistakes, helpig push two early runs across the plate.

However, Irmo would quickly answer back with three runs of their own to seize the lead.

OSMENT

Gaffney would fall even further off the pace in the second and third innings, as their opponents would open up a three-run lead, which was a reason for concern for Osment.

"Early on they did a good job of putting runners on and advancing them," Osment said. "They definitely kept us on our heels."

Consecutive hits by Jackson and Bubba Wright in the third pulled Post 109 within two runs of the lead before Irmo whipped back with runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

The team would not threaten again until the sixth stanza when Michael Hughey reached on a fielder's choice. Wright picked up his second RBI on the night with a hit, pulling Gaffney back into the fray at 7-4.

After Irmo came back with another run of their own in the sixth to push their lead back to four runs, Post 109 bats awakened in the seventh as consecutive hits with two outs helped pull the team even at 8-8.

Though Irmo was able to reclaim the lead in the bottom half of theinning, Post 109 reclaimed the lead at 10-9 with a two run eighth inning.

From there it was all Jackson, as he was able to suddenly silence the hot Irmo bats and help send the series back to Gaffney for a game four.

"Without a doubt, if we don't have Jackson on the mound tonight, we are probably going home," Osment said. "He pitched a great ball game."

Even with the win, Osment believes his players must come with the same type of intensity in game four, as Post 109 still finds itself with its backs against the wall.

"I'm proud of the victory... but we're still facing elimination," Osment said. "Yes, we know the series is not best two of three for us. But we also know things must be taken a game at a time.

"If we do all the simple things well, I think we'll be fine."

Post 109 looks to push the series to a winner-take-all game five in Irmo on Saturday with a win at Commissioner's Field on Friday. The first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.