Albemarle Post 74 coach Mike Maynard described it as “the worst inning of the season.” With a comfortable six run lead going into the bottom of the seventh, everything that could go wrong for Maynard’s squad did, as Greenbrier Post 280 made good on four errors to rally to take a one run lead. Although Albemarle put runners in scoring position twice between the eighth and ninth inning, last year’s American Legion state champions did not give the lead back.
“It’s really depressing because were set up perfect (before all the errors),” Maynard said. “Chris Madison hadn’t touched the ball yet so we had him ready to go. Jordan Gentry hadn’t touched the ball either. And then this happens.”
To make matters worse, one of Albemarle’s most prolific hitters, Logan Forloines, broke his arm in the middle of the game in a collision. Forloines was 2 for 2 with a trio of RBIs before he was forced to leave. The William Monroe rising senior has had a run of bad luck in the last two months, breaking his wrist in June and being hit by a pitch in the face to start July.
David Spinosa started for Post 74 and threw six and two thirds of an inning, giving up just four hits in his outing. Sean Rutherford came on in relief for Spinosa in the seventh and finished the game giving up just one hit.
After taking a 7-1 lead in the fourth, Albemarle’s offense was unable to score again. Nonetheless, Post 74 out-hit Greenbrier 13 to five. Joey Varaksa, Gentry and Rutherford all had multiple hits in the loss.
Post 74 now heads to the losers bracket of the double elimination tournament. Albemarle plays in a must win game against Springfield Post 176 at Liberty University in Lynchburg at 10 a.m. Thursday. If they win they will play again at 8 p.m. in another elimination game.
