Photo by LARRY HILLIARD Jason Biershenk earned the lone win for Post 109 in this year's state tournament at Spartanburg's Duncan Park. Gaffney was eliminated in a high-scoring 17-13 loss Friday afternoon to West Columbia. Post 109 simply ran out of comebacks.

Trailing 10-2, Post 109 fought back to tie the game on several occasions, but West Columbia finally put the game away in the eighth inning for a hardfought 17-13 win Friday afternoon at Duncan Park. The loss eliminated Post 109 from the state tournament. Earlier in the tournament, Post 109 beat Georgetown and lost to Florence.

Luke Beasley slammed a three-run homer as part of West Columbia's fourrun eighth that broke a 13-13 tie.

Hits and heart were in ample supply for Post 109, but throwing arms weren't.

Post 109 was pressed into starting John Michaels, the team's right fielder. Michaels failed to retire a batter before he was relieved by Bubba Wright in the first inning.

West Columbia built a 10-2 lead, but Post 109 was just getting started. Gaffney tied the game at 11 with a sixrun fifth inning. Ryan Westbrook's bases-clearing triple was the big hit in the inning.

West Columbia regained the lead at 13-11 but Michael Wright, who had homered earlier, came through with a 2- run single.

But West Columbia had one last big inning, scoring four times in the eighth to seal the win.

"We could have folded the tent, but the kids kept on battling," Post 109 coach Jeff Osment said.

Michael Wright was the offensive star, with four hits and four RBIs. Jason Biershenk and Bryan Parsons each had three hits and McCrae Norton and Michael Hughey both had two hits for Post 109, which ends the season at 22-6.