Greenwood finishes off Post 34 in American Legion playoffs

After landing a vicious, stunning haymaker in the series' opening game on Monday, the Greenwood American Legion Post 20 Braves dusted off a wobbly Rock Hill Tuesday and Wednesday to punch their ticket to state.

Greenwood routed Rock Hill 16-6 on Wednesday to finish off the second-round sweep to advance to the state tournament in Sumter beginning June 25.

"It feels awesome. I'm really excited for our guys," Geenwood coach Mack Hite said. "It's an awesome experience. If you get down there, you've got a chance. Anybody that gets in there has a shot.

"We're excited about the opportunity."

In the Monday's series opener, Rock Hill jumped out to an 8-0 lead after five innings and led 8-5 entering the bottom of the ninth inning. But, Cody Adams hit a three-run home run and Brady Smith followed with a two-run shot to stun Rock Hill, stealing Game 1 10-8.

The Braves cruised to a 14-8 win in Tuesday's second game in Rock Hill before putting away Rock Hill early on Wednesday for the sweep.

"Monday night was so big," Hite said. "We were on the ropes, and that was just an emotional game and really put them on their heels. Really shocked them. I think they felt real good about their chances for most of the night on Monday. But, we were able to get that one.

"Momentum carried us through these other two games."

Rock Hill started Will Chitwood Wednesday, who was fresh off a 100-plus pitching performance in a start on Monday. And Chitwood looked like he was pitching on short rest. The rightie struggled to find the plate, and the Braves let him struggle.

Greenwood scored three runs in the first inning off one hit, three walks and a hit batter. The Braves then chased Chitwood from the game in the second, bringing 13 batters to the plate and scoring nine runs on five hits and four walks.

Reliever Will Gardiner did not fare much better. Hamp Fallaw hammered the first pitch from Gardiner off the wall in left to plate three runs to put Greenwood ahead 12-1.

"We were patient," Hite said. "Chitwood threw a lot of pitches Monday night, and we knew that coming in. We wanted to make him work, and we did that. He helped us a little bit with some walks.

"That second inning was the difference."

Fallaw drove in another run with a double in the sixth, and Jonathan Wright ended the game in the eighth with a three-run double to push Greenwood's lead to 10.

"We got in cruise control along the way and didn't really put it on them like we should, but you've got to give them some credit," Hite said. "Josh Alley came in on short rest and really shut us down there from the third on, up until that eighth inning.

"But, I'm really proud of our guys."

Scoring

Rock Hill 103 010 01 -- 6

Greenwood 390 001 03 -- 16

WP -- Bryce Bearden, LP -- Will Chitwood

Leading hitters -- Hamp Fallaw 2 2Bs, 4 RBIs, Jonathan Wright 3 RBIs, Brady Smith 3 RBIs.

This story was originally published July 16, 2015 at 8:45 AM with the headline "Greenwood finishes off Post 34 in American Legion playoffs."