AMERICAN LEGION WORLD SERIES

Texarkana takes Legion title in 12

It took a little extra -- three innings to be exact -- but the Texarkana Razorbacks came away from Shelby, N.C., on Tuesday night with an American Legion World Series title.

Nick Myers and Parker Ribble each produced two-run hits in the top of the 12th inning, and the Razorbacks survived a scare in the bottom of the inning to hold on for an 8-6 championship game victory over Salisbury, N.C., at Keeter Stadium.

Texarkana (42-5) is the first team from Arkansas to win an American Legion World Series title.

Salisbury (41-14) scored two runs in the bottom of the 12th and had the bases loaded, but reliever Zac Harrington entered the game and got shortstop Dalton Lankford to ground back to the mound for the final out.

The Arkansas state champions rallied from a 4-0 deficit after four innings.

Ribble led the Razorbacks' 14-hit attack with three hits, including two doubles. The Texarkana right fielder doubled to start a four-run rally in the fifth, and he had a single in the eighth.

Myers was hitless in his previous four at-bats before breaking a 4-4 tie in the 12th. He lined a two-ball, two-strike pitch back through the middle to score Matt Goodheart and Blake Hall.

Austin Cross, the third of four Texarkana pitchers, earned the victory. Cross entered the game in the fifth inning and worked six scoreless innings before the 12th inning, leaving the game with two outs and the bases loaded in the 12th. Cross allowed 5 hits, 2 runs, struck out 4, hit 2 batters and walked 3.

Beau Burson started and went 2 2/3 innings. He gave up two hits and three unearned runs. Austin Stubber worked the next 2 1/3 innings, giving up 3 hits and 1 earned run while striking out 1 and walking 3.

Bryan Ketchie took the loss for Salisbury. He went 4 2/3 innings and gave up all four of his runs in the 12th inning. He struck out 5, walked 1 and allowed 6 hits.

Goodheart, who was 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored, started Texarkana's game-winning rally with a bunt single. With one out, Hall doubled to left to send Goodheart to third.

After Will Smith was intentionally walked to load the bases, Myers responded with his hit. And after a wild pitch, Ribble drove in the Razorbacks' final two runs with a double to left center.

Salisbury started the bottom of the 12th inning with a double from right fielder Lee Poteat, who advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on third baseman Juan Garcia's sacrifice fly.

Designated hitter Brandon Walton singled and advanced to second when left fielder Jake Pritchard's ground ball to Cross led to a throwing error.

A hit by pitch loaded the bases. Cross struck out second baseman Tanner File looking before throwing three consecutive balls to center fielder Chandler Blackwelder.

Harrington was brought in to relieve Cross. Harrington threw a ball to Blackwelder to cut Texarkana's lead to 8-6 before getting Lankford to ground out.

Smith was selected as the American Legion Player of the Year. Smith batted .471 (8 for 17) and drove in eight runs in the tournament’s five games. Pitcher Austin Cross and Hall were also named to the World Series All-Tournament team. Cross threw 14.2 innings, allowing 4 runs, 3 of which were earned. He struck out eight and walked six. Hall batted .450 (9 for 20) with 2 RBI.

Texarkana third baseman Logan Vidrine was awarded the sportsmanship award.

Sports on 08/17/2016

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