Pritchard leads Randolph to playoff series tying victory
July 24th, 2007 Posted in American Legion baseball
Randolph County Legion (photos and video highlights) played their best game of the series, winning at South Rowan Legion (photos, videos, statistics, roster, StarCards) 9 - 2 knotting the best of seven playoff series at two games apiece.
All-star Neil Pritchard (video clip below from Legion All-Star Game) led the way for Randolph, pitching a complete game masterpiece in hostile territory, and keying Randolph’s early offense with a first inning RBI double, and third inning solo home run. Pritchard’s bat is his most feared weapon, usually mainly pitching in relief, but he asked Manager Ronnie Pugh for the ball, and came up big with his first nine-inning complete game of the year, striking out 11. Pritchard’s homer was the second of back-to-back Randolph third inning solo home runs, following Josh Hahn’s home run, and Steven Davis hit Randolph’s third solo shot of the game in the ninth to finish out the scoring with Randolph’s ninth run. A Rudy Brown seventh inning two-run home run accounted for all of the South Rowan legion scoring.
Video clip of Pritchard RBI double in Legion All-Star game
After the game, Ronnie Pugh stated that Neil’s effort was key in not only winning the game, but giving the Randolph bullpen a breather. Pugh also emphasized how his batting order was productive from top to bottom, citing as an example how #8 hitter Scott Hayes reached twice, was successfully bunted over by Bryson Windsor each time, and came around to score both times.
The teams will play game five at Randolph (McCrary Park in Asheboro) tomorrow night, as Randolph Legion reclaims home field advantage in what will now be a best of three playoff series to determine which team will advance to the state playoffs to represent Area III along with Rowan County Legion (Rowan County Legion completed a four game sweep of Kernersville Legion earlier tonight). Randolph’s Justin Yow and South’s Walker Snow will likely be the game five starting pitchers, although Pugh stated after the game that the Randolph coaching staff has not yet made a final decision on a starting pitcher.
