Burgreen’s arm leads North to win

Published 7:40 am Saturday, July 18, 2009

Post 49 North Limestone pitcher Jackson Burgreen saved his best game of the year for the best time of the year.

Burgreen pitched a complete game one-hit shutout Friday in the opening day of the Alabama American Legion Junior State Tournament in Troy, as North Limestone defeated Florence Post 11 6-0.

“It feels good,” Burgreen said. “That’s probably the best game I’ve pitched all year. I guess this is a good time to have it.”

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The only hit allowed by Burgreen came in the first inning, after which Burgreen retired 16 straight Post 11 batters.

North Limestone head coach Hunter Royer said Burgreen’s pitch locations made him tough to beat Friday.

“He did a great job,” Royer said. “He did a great job of keeping the ball down and he had his changeup working. When he does that, he’s hard to beat.”

Burgreen struck out seven and allowed just three runners to reach base, with two of those coming in the first inning.

Burgreen had run support as well, though. North Limestone jumped on top in the top of the first inning and never looked back.

North Limestone loaded the bases in the first and James Smith hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score leadoff man Justin Riddle.

North Limestone added another in the fourth inning when Burgreen helped his own cause by ripping an RBI double to right field to drive in Smith.

Riddle and Chandler Brock put the game out of reach in the sixth, when North Limestone went up 5-0 thanks to an RBI single by Riddle and a two-RBI single by Brock.

North Limestone would add one more in the seventh on an RBI single by Michael Fogg.

Riddle finished the game 2-4 with an RBI, while Brock went 1-4 with two RBIs. Landon Boggs also finished 2-4.

Post 11’s only hit was by Brandon Berry.

Following the win, North Limestone will continue pool play in pool A Saturday against Post 34 Tuscaloosa Red at 1 p.m.

Post 11 will play Post 80 Andalusia at 7 p.m. today.