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CHERRYVILLE, N.C. -- A day after beginning their foray into the American Legion Southeast Region tournament with six runs allowed and multiple errors in the field, Wheeling Post 1 had a quick turnaround in more ways than one, facing Puerto Rico American Legion champions Dorado Post 45 less than 24 hours later, and holding Post 45 off the scoreboard with a spotless performance in the field and on the mound in a 3-0 shutout win Thursday at Fraley Field.
Erik Blazier and Aleks Zanieski combined to throw a one-hitter for the triumphant Post 1 squad. Zanieski pitched into the sixth inning, striking out seven and allowing only one hit-- though he walked eight. Blazier took over and was near-perfect the rest of the way, a walk the only issue on Wheeling's way to a Regional victory, earning a 1-1 mark through two days of the double-elimination tournament.
With their own bats, Post 1 did not strike out once as a team, and tallied six hits. Linsly's Chris Upton and Wheeling Central's Jake Brown hit RBI singles back-to-back in the second inning to put Wheeling on the board, driving in John Marshall grad Kayden Knapp and Wheeling Park grad Nolan Yanchak.
Brady Ernest hit a solo home run over the left field fence at Fraley Field to put Post 1 ahead by three runs in the bottom of the third. Ernest had two hits on the day. The Wheeling Central soon-to-be-senior's home run and Kayden Knapp's double were Post 1's only extra-base hits Thursday.
Looking ahead, Wheeling Post 1 will face Jacksonville Post 316, the Florida state champions, on Friday. Both teams are 1-1 and fighting to stay alive in the Regional tourney. The winner will advance to the quarterfinal round. The champion of the Southeast Region will be one of eight teams advancing to the American Legion World Series, which takes place Aug. 13-18 at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C.