Smith Post drops American Legion baseball district playoff opener, now facing elimination

RIDGE, Maryland - Smith Post of Rome was beaten in the opening game of Mid-Atlantic Regional play Wednesday and faces an American Legion postseason elimination game Thursday morning at Joe Cannon Stadium.

Wheeling, West Virginia, was a 5-1 winner in the first of four games to be played Wednesday by teams representing six states. Smith Post awaits the outcome of the third game of the day between Wilmington, Delaware, and Fort Cumberland, Maryland, to determine its opponent for the 9:30 a.m. game Thursday; Wheeling Post gets the winner later Thursday, and Smith Post plays the loser.

More: Smith Post wins state's senior American Legion baseball tournament

More: 2024 American Legion baseball scores

Wheeling Post took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and added four runs in the second. Quinn Jamison shut Smith Post out on one hit, two walked and two hit batters through 5 2/3 innings before Ryland Robb relieved him with two outs and the bases empty in the top of the sixth.

Nathan VanWie and John Sharrino hit back-to-back singles. Robb then walked Brayden Gifford to load the bases, and Smith Post scored its lone run when Robb walked PJ Summa.

Robb retired the next batter to end the sixth inning and retired Smith Post in order in the seventh.

VanWie had the only hit against Jamison with one out in the fourth inning. Jamison walked leadoff batter Jacob Premo twice and hit him once.

Wheeling Post took its initial lead when Jared Marsh drew a leadoff walk in the first inning and circled the bases on an error on a ball ht by Alexander Taylor, the next batter. Jaxon Murray followed with a single, and Noah Clausen hit a batter with one out, but no more runs would score as Wheeling Post left the bases loaded.

The second inning started with another Smith Post error and a bunt to turn over the Wheeling Post lineup. Marsh singled, and both runners scored on a hit by Taylor. Andrew Skadra and Dillon Wilson each drove in a run, and Mike Flint relieved Clausen.

Flint allowed one hit in 1 2/3 innings, and Sharrino pitched the final three innings.

Brooklawn, New Jersey, defeated Quakertown, Pennsylvania, 5-1 in the second game of the day.

This article originally appeared on Times Telegram: Smith Post drops American Legion baseball district playoff opener, now facing elimination