Pitching helps carry Post 1 into round two

By Justin Driggers
Morning News

Published: July 20, 2008

FLORENCE — Post 1 is in the second round of the American Legion baseball playoffs, and it isn’t too difficult to figure out how.
Florence defeated Beaufort three games to one, and in its three wins, Post 1’s starting pitching allowed one earned run in 21 innings — and just two runs overall.
“Chris Wallace, Patrick Mincey and Dale Sylvester just did an outstanding job,” Post 1 coach Derick Urquhart said. “They all gave us seven strong innings, and you can’t ask too much more from your pitchers.”
Wallace and Mincey tossed seven scoreless innings apiece and combined for 17 strikeouts, 13 by Mincey. Sylvester wrapped up the series Saturday with a complete-game, one-hit performance.
And with a couple of rainouts sprinkled in, Post 1 has its starting rotation set up nicely for Conway, with game one set for 7 p.m. tonight at Legion Field.
“We’re going to have the same rotation through the first two games,” Urquhart said. “Wallace and (Andrew) Turner will go, and then we’ll have to see where we’re at in game three.”
Unlike Beaufort, Post 1 is more than a little familiar with Conway. Florence’s squad, made up of plenty of Hartsville, South Florence and West Florence players, has seen more than its share of Post 111’s members, taken mainly from Conway High School.
The two teams also met once before this season in the championship game of the Post 1 Invitational. Conway rallied for an 8-6 win in a game where Post 1 committed five errors and had one hit after the second inning.
“We know they can beat us, and we know they have three very good starting pitchers,” Urquhart said. “We have to make sure we have good at-bats and put the ball in play somewhere. The only game we lost (to Beaufort) was when we struck out a lot and didn’t have productive at-bats.”
Florence’s offense has been a big key for them all season, and despite some of the players being in mini-slumps, others have stepped up.
Spencer Jordan and Brandon Hyman, both recently injured, went a combined 7-for-11 in the Beaufort series.
“Those guys came in and did a great job picking up some of the slack,” Urquhart said. “I hope with the day off (Sunday), it will give the rest of our guys a chance to relax and get their minds clear for the Conway series.”
The Florence-Conway rivalry is one of the oldest in the state, with the first meeting held in 1934 at Conway. Florence won 33-4 in five innings behind starter Charles Hubbard, and Post 1 leads the all-time series 96-44.
Also beginning second-round play is Lake City. Post 73 swept Summerville in the opening series, and will have to face League III champion Sumter.
Game one is scheduled for tonight at Riley Park in Sumter at 7:30 p.m.
Bishopville forced a deciding game five against Goose Creek on Sunday, and the result was not know at press time. If victorious, Post 29 will have a quick turnaround and face Georgetown today.

Florence Junior Legion wins state title again
LAKE CITY — The Florence Junior Legion team captured its second straight state title Sunday with a 3-2 victory against Sumter in eight innings.
Tyquan Black’s RBI in the top of the eighth inning was the game-winner. Florence was 26-3 this season.
Michael Wilson of Florence Christian was named the tournament MVP and Matthew Prosser, also of Florence Christian, was named the most outstanding pitcher.