Sports Editor

MONTGOMERY – Montgomery Post 210 spoiled Troy Post 70’s state title run by winning two consecutive in the American Legion Junior State Tournament on Sunday and Monday.

Post 70 had successfully ran off three straight victories to enter into the championship bracket, including an 8-6 win on Saturday over Montgomery, but were denied by the hosts 4-3 in Monday’s final game.

Troy beat West Alabama 6-5 and Northview 4-3 in the first two games of the tournament.

Post 70 started off well against Montgomery on Sunday as Post 210 starting pitcher Antonio Williams walked two batters in the first inning and then allowed Clint Pugh to drive in two runs with a single.

Wes Wilson led things off for Post 210 in the second with a single and, after Troy starter Matthew Johnson walked one batter and allowed Scott Moore to reach on an error, Post 210 tied the game up. Wilson came home on a passed ball and Matt Kilpatrick sacrificed a hit into the Post 70 outfield to score the additional run.

Williams’ shaky start in the first inning didn’t reappear in the second. Post 70 went three up, three down for the next four innings. Blake Phelps had the lone hit for Troy during that period, a single in the fifth, but got caught when Post 210 turned a double play to close the inning.

In fact, double plays were a regular occurrence for the Montgomery defense on Sunday. A double play ended the first after Troy had taken the initial 2-0 lead, leaving two runners on base, and an unassisted double play by Moore at second base finished the fourth inning.

Troy started to find Williams’ range in the sixth. Justin Sims had a basehit to open and Wesley Wright reached on error. Pugh had a follow-up single and Drew Kilpatrick drove in a runner with a bloop hit into the outfield.

With two outs, though, and new Post 210 pitcher Dwight Hause on the mound, Kilpatrick was ruled out going between second and third when an infield hit by Phelps grazed his leg and rolled into the outfield.

In Post 70’s 8-6 win on Saturday, Troy had 11 hits as David Doty picked up the win pitching. Sims had two hits as did Wright and Brett Pierce to lead Troy. Luke Sanders, Clint Pugh, Doty, Clower and Tyson Pugh also each had hits.

Post 70 ends the year with a record of 28-10.