Featured photo by Arron Hustead, Washington Missourian
The Bossier Phillies rolled into the championship round of the American Legion Baseball Mid-South Regional with a 16-0 victory over Mississippi champion Pontotoc Saturday in Washington, Mo.
Bossier gets another shot at Tennessee champion Columbia Sunday at 11 a.m. Columbia, which eliminated host Washington 14-3 Saturday, defeated Bossier 2-1 Friday.
If Bossier wins, the teams will face off again at 2 p.m. for the championship and a spot in the American Legion World Series.
A day after Bossier was almost no-hit by Columbia, the Phillies’ bats came alive against Pontotoc, but it took a little while.
Bossier had one hit through three innings and the game was scoreless. But the Phillies finished with 10.
Bossier also took advantage of 12 walks and four hit-by-pitches.
The Phillies needed only one hit to score four in the top of the fourth. They took advantage of three walks, an error, a passed ball and a sacrifice fly by Cole Snell.
Bossier added four more in the fifth then put eight on the board in the sixth.
Phillies starter Tanner Webb, a former Benton standout, allowed two hits in five innings. He struck out three and walked two. Britian Pipes didn’t allow a hit or walk in the final inning.
Brock Laird, who had the Phillies’ first hit, went 3-for-5 with a home run, triple and three RBI.
Snell had a two-run double in the sixth and finished with four RBI.
Hudson Brignac had a hit and an RBI. He also drew two walks.
Griffin Sibley had a double and drew two walks. Abel Thetford had a hit and walked twice.
Case Jorden had a hit and drew three walks. Dillon Braxton had a hit and an RBI.