Summerville Post 21 secured a gritty 6‑4 victory over West Columbia Post 79 on July 17, completing a best‑of‑three series and keeping its South Carolina American Legion Baseball championship hopes alive. The win came in front of a home crowd that witnessed a series of clutch defensive plays and a balanced offensive attack.
A home‑field triumph
The game swung in Summerville’s favor when the team turned a 6‑4‑3 double play in the fourth inning, halting a West Columbia rally. Shepard Cadwell’s late throw to the plate sealed the outs, while the offense capitalized on the momentum, outhitting the opposition 11‑7.
Coach Nick Pinckney, while admitting the team did not play its best, praised the competitive spirit that carried them through. ‘We didn’t play our best, but the guys fought for every run,’ he said after the game, underscoring the resilience that defined the victory.
Mound mastery and timely hitting
Starter Brady Coryell opened the game with three plus innings, striking out two and walking five. He gave way to Mason Curti, who logged two plus innings, allowing a single run and navigating three walks. Cadwell closed the contest by fanning two batters and preserving the lead. At the plate, Nathan Clark, Carter Gullotti, Brodie Tuthill, Jaxson Johnson and Cooper Gaskins each collected a hit, with Johnson driving in two runs.
The win sets up a showdown with Camden Post 17 at Camden Legion Field on July 20. All remaining playoff games will be hosted at Riley Park in Sumter beginning July 22, giving the team a familiar home‑field advantage as they chase the title.
Looking ahead to Camden
With a mix of veteran arms and emerging hitters, Post 21 aims to translate its regular‑season chemistry into a deep tournament run. The upcoming games will test whether the early‑season momentum can withstand the heightened stakes of elimination play, and fans will be eager to see if the squad can carry this momentum forward.