Gauthier Amedee wins American Legion World Series opener

SHELBY, N.C. – Jack Merrifield singled in the game’s only run and combined with Preston Thrash on a four-hitter to lead Gauthier Amedee to a 1-0 victory over Braintree, Massachusetts, on the opening day of the American Legion World Series here Thursday.

Gonzales-based Gauthier Amedee will face the other 1-0 team in its four-team pool, Wilmington (Delaware), Friday at 3 p.m. CDT. ESPN3 will broadcast the game; beginning Saturday, all tournament games are on ESPNU.

Merrifield – who graduated in May from Dutchtown – broke up the scoreless duel with a two-out single in the bottom of the fourth, scoring Thrash, an East Ascension grad.

Merrifield blanked the Massachusetts squad for 6 2/3 innings before Thrash came on to get the final out and earn the save.

“Our team batting average is pretty gaudy, but we have played these before,” Gauthier Amedee coach Marty Luquet said. “Matter of fact, the (victory) to get here was 1-0. We’ve been here, we understand what it takes, we didn’t panic.”

Merrifield threw just 80 pitches, keeping him eligible to return for a possible semifinal game on Monday.