Post 114 rips Conway 13-1
Last Updated on 3/19/2010
Published on 6/15/2008
By R.G. Greene
rgreene@gtowntimes.com
While pitching for Newberry College this spring - and earning the South Atlantic Conference's Freshman of the Year honors - Josh McElwee didn't have a chance to step into the batters box himself.
But playing for the Georgetown American Legion baseball team this summer, McElwee is making up for lost time at the plate.
The Andrews alum celebrated his 19th birthday last Thursday by belting a pair of home runs and powering Post 114 to a 13-1 decision over Conway at Waccamaw High School.
"It wasn't a bad way to celebrate a birthday," said McElwee, who increased his home run total to four on the season. "I missed being able (to bat). It was always something I enjoyed doing when I was in high school."
Said Post 114 coach Jeff Gregory, "Josh is seeing the ball really well. I've been a little surprised by how well he has been hitting. It had been awhile since he'd seen live pitching.
"As good of a player as he is, I knew there would be a point where he would catch up. But I didn't think it would be this quick."
Post 114's offensive efficiency in the early part of the season probably has even caught most fans by surprise. Through its first eight games the squad has been held to under 10 runs just twice.
"There aren't any easy outs in our lineup," Gregory said. "Everyone is capable. They can hit for average, power or anything you want. We couldn't have asked for a better start at the plate."
Said McElwee, "We all love to play the game. We all share the same goal: and that is to win."
Georgetown (6-2) took control of the Thursday's game from the outset, picking up four runs in the bottom of the first. McElwee's three-run homer in the second increased the lead to seven.
Trey Altman - whose two-run single highlighted the first frame - would then tack on a two-run shot that put Post 114 in front 9-0 after two innings.
It was more than enough support for Georgetown High alum Chris Wall. Working five scoreless innings in relief, Wall allowed only one hit in picking up the win.
"Chris did a great job," Gregory said. "Getting out front the way we did he was able to relax and throw strikes. We had planned to look at some other pitchers, but with the way Chris was throwing we decided to leave him in there."
Kevin Rufus walked and scored an unearned run for Georgetown in the third inning and McElwee's two-run homer helped bring the scoring to a close in the sixth frame.
McElwee finished with two hits and five RBIs and Altman added two hits and drove in four.
FLORENCE 4, GEORGETOWN 0: Matt Long - who just completed his freshman season at Coker College - had the hot hand for Florence on Saturday at Mike Johnson Park, holding Georgetown to four hits and picking up the win.
Levi George, Trey Thames, Cody Byrdic and Tyler Vick had the hits for Post 114.
"Florence is always one of the better teams in the state," Gregory said. "(Long) was able to keep us off balance throughout the game. He never allowed us to string any hits together."
Georgetown will return to action tonight, welcoming Murrells Inlet to Waccamaw High School at 7 p.m.
