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Post 29 advances to title game

Elkins Post 29’s Adam Riggleman struck out 11 batters in earning the victory on the mound over Braxton County Post 33, 11-1, Thursday evening at Robin Harvey Memorial Field.

ELKINS — Luke Petrice drove in 5 runs Thursday to help Elkins Post 29 defeat Braxton County Post 33, 11-1, and inch one game closer to claiming the American Legion Area 5 Championship at Robin Harvey Memorial Field.

Elkins will now face the winner of the Braxton County/Buckhannon Post 7 contest today at 8 p.m. in the championship round.

Braxton County and Buckhannon will square off in an elimination game beginning at 5 p.m. in Elkins. Buckhannon defeated Jane Lew Post 166, 11-5, Thursday to keep their hopes alive.

“Tonight’s game was a pitchers’ duel,” Post 29 manager Chris George said. “Adam (Riggleman) really pitched well. It was one of his better performances of the year. He had good velocity on his fastball and good secondary stuff.

“Hitting-wise, both Luke Petrice and Caleb Riggleman at the top of the order, really, really sparked the offense tonight. We left too many guys on, but those two really came through for us tonight.”

Buckhannon Post 7 pitcher Noah Yokum delivers a strike to home plate during Buckhannon’s 11-5 victory over Jane Lew Post 166 Thursday afternoon.

Adam Riggleman (3-5) went 8 innings on the mound to earn the victory. He struck out 11 batters, gave up 1 run on 4 hits and walked 5.

Petrice set the tone for the Post 29 offense, finishing the day 4 for 5 with 5 RBIs, 2 doubles and 1 run scored. Caleb Riggleman also put up big numbers, going 3 for 4 with 3 runs, 3 stolen bases and 1 RBI.

Other top performers included Kyle Riggleman, 2 for 3 with 3 runs and 1 RBI, and Read Schumacher, 2 for 5 with a triple and 1 RBI. Elkins amassed 15 hits in the contest.

Brent McMillion shouldered the loss for Braxton County. In 7 innings of work, he gave up 5 runs on 11 hits, struck out 11 batters and issued 7 walks. McMillion recently finished up his freshman season at Davis and Elkins College, George said.

Along with moving one step closer to the Area 5 Championship, the victory marked career win 400 for George and his staff. Following the game, the team doused George with the water cooler to celebrate the milestone.

“All the credit goes to the past staff and players,” George said. “They are a part of it. We’ve had great players and great staff over the years.”

George took over as manager for Post 29 in 2004 and his overall record is 400 wins, 229 losses and 2 ties.

Along with winning the Area 5 championship every year since 2007, George and his staff also guided Post 29 to a state title in 2012 after being runner-up in both 2010 and 2011.

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