Pedal Valves caps Legion World Series pool play with 14-6 win before Monday’s semifinals

August 17, 2019
By CCS Staff
Category: Local Sports, Preps

Stephen Klein of Destrehan, LA Post 366 fields a ball in the second inning during game 9 of the 2019 American Legion World Series between Destrehan, LA Post 366 and Albuquerque, NM Post 13 on Saturday, August 17, 2019 at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. (Photo by Ryan Young/The American Legion).

By Jeremy Field/American Legion

Pedal Valves (Destrehan, La. Post 366) batted around in consecutive innings, overcoming a late deficit for a resounding victory to stay perfect in pool play.

Behind by three on two different occasions, Pedal Valves ultimately was victorious over Albuquerque, N.M., Post 13 by a score of 14-6.

The game turned in the bottom of the fifth as Pedal Valves brought 10 batters to the plate, turning a three run deficit into a three run advantage. The Southeast champions loaded the bases with a single and two walks to lead off the inning and Stephen Klein hammered a ground ball down the first base line into the corner for a bases clearing triple to tie the game. After a walk and a stolen base, Kolby McWilliams brought a pair home to take the lead and later TJ Thomas brought home McWilliams to make the lead 9-6.

In the sixth, Pedal Valves padded its lead with a pair of singles and a hit by pitch setting up Bourgeois with the bases loaded. The first baseman lined a single to right, adding two more runs. Stephen Powers followed and battled in the count before another line drive single to right scoring one more. Schexnaydre then cleared the bases with a double to the wall in right-center.

Pedal Valves, which got hits from 10 different players, will be the top seed out of the Stars pool, advancing to the semifinals on Monday and facing the runner-up from the Stripes pool at 3 p.m. Central time.