Published: July 21, 2008 11:43 pm         

Post 32 leaves area for Area

The American Legion Area 3 tournament begins today and Beckley Post 32 is the lowest seed, which guarantees just one thing — Post 32 has played its final home game of the summer.

Beckley (22-15-1), the fourth seed, takes on No. 1 Ceredo-Kenova Post 93 (22-14-2) at 7 p.m. today at Spring Valley High in Huntington. South Charleston Post 94, the second seed, hosts No. 3 Parkersburg Post 15.

The tournament is double-elimination and all games are scheduled for nine innings.

Win or lose, Beckley will be on the road for the duration. The higher-seeded team hosts each game of the tournament.

So, should Post 32 win tonight, it will play at either South Charleston or Parkersburg on Wednesday, and so on and so forth.

Gas up and get ready for a long week.

“It’s pretty tough,” Beckley coach John Sullivan said. “C-K is an hour and 45 minutes away. Being the fourth seed means we will be on the road the whole tournament.”

Sullivan has already played out the scenarios in his head and doesn’t like what lies ahead.

“If we win and South Charleston loses (tonight), then we will have to go to Parkersburg,” Sullivan said. “There is nothing worse than having to go all the way to Parkersburg in the middle of the week and then have to drive back.”

Of course, Sullivan will gladly spend the $4.17 per gallon of gas in exchange for a trip to the state tournament next week.

Beckley is 1-4 this summer against Post 93, including a doubleheader sweep in Oak Hill by identical 3-0 scores in both teams’ season-opener June 2.

“They beat us four times in the middle of the week, and it’s no secret we don’t play well in the middle of the week,” Sullivan said. “I’m happy with the matchup.”

Post 32’s only win against C-K was 8-6 in the Pat Bays Memorial at C-K.

Beckley’s offense has been explosive, led by designated hitter Mark Cuthbert’s .467 average. He also has 10 doubles and 48 runs batted in.

Also hitting over .400 are shortstop Rob Stephens (.459) and catcher/DH Lanny Meadows (.420). Stephens has smacked 14 doubles and has scored 46 runs.

Catcher/DH Jeremy Buchanan is batting .359 with nine homers and 35 RBIs.

The pitching has taken its lumps, none worse than in an 18-8 loss to South Charleston. Post 32 drags a 6.93 earned run average into the tournament.

Left-hander Tyler Zimm is 4-0 but his ERA stands at 7.15. Douglas Poe is 4-3, including a complete game, with a team-low 5.02 ERA. Logan Ray (2-2, 2 saves, 6.52) picked up two wins in relief last week.

The Area 3 winner advances to the state tournament next week in Moundsville.

— E-mail: gfauber@

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