By By BRUCE HIXON – Sports Editor
Brewton Post 79 limped out of the District 3 American Legion Tournament at Ozark Friday when it was ambushed by Montgomery 16-0 in seven innings.
A four-run second inning for Montgomery was all it needed for the win, but it followed with plenty more. The biggest blow came when Montgomery turned in an eight-run fifth inning that made it 15-0 and kicked the 10-run rule into effect.
Montgomery, which beat Post 79 for a fifth time this season, outhit Brewton 16-3. Post 79 got two hits from Damien Jackson and one from Clay Simpson.
Jonathan McNeil was the losing Brewton hurler, as he allowed seven runs over the first four and one-third innings.
Brewton, which finished the season at 6-23, fell into the elimination bracket Thursday with a tough 6-5 loss to Wiregrass.
Wiregrass took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when two hit batsmen and a walk issued by Brewton pitcher Whitney Qualls all came around to score.
Post 79 fought back and tied the game at 3-3 with a run in the top of the fourth and two more in the top of the sixth.
The decisive blow came in the bottom of the sixth when a key Post 79 error led the way to three unearned runs and a 6-3 lead for Wiregrass.
A frame that haunted Post 79 came in the top of the eighth when Brewton loaded the bases with nobody out, but three straight strikeouts followed and prevented any scoring.
Brewton still nearly pulled the game out in the top of the ninth. RBI singles by Jake Bonds and Clay Simpson trimmed Wiregrass' advantage to just 6-5. Post 79 left the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base.
Simpson had a pair of hits and an RBI to head Brewton's offensive attack. Becker Denton contributed a single and a double. Bonds had a single and drove in two runs. Sean Little contributed a single and an RBI. Jordan Ball, Jonathan McNeil, Christopher Griffin and Damien Jackson all added a single.
Qualls went the distance on the mound, as he allowed only five hits and struck out seven.
Thursday's game
Brewton 000 100 202 - 5 10 2
Wiregrass 030 000 30X - 6 5 1
Friday's game
Brewton 000 000 0 – 0 3 1
Montgomery 041 281 X – 16 16 1