Post 330 grabs two games from Purcellville

Late in the afternoon Sunday, Culpeper American Legion Post 330 shortstop Brandon Scott smacked a line drive that reached the wall in centerfield. The bases-loaded fifth-inning blast, which plated three runs, was the exclamation point on an explosive effort from the Culpeper team.

After suffering through a handful of one-run losses in recent weeks, Post 330 wasted no time dispatching of Post 293 of Purcellville Sunday, sweeping a double header, 7-4, 12-2.

“We’ve been more aggressive at the plate,” centerfielder Joey Powell said.

Scott’s blast wasn’t the only highlight in the day’s second game, which ended because of a mercy rule when Josh Gardiner scored on Brandon Mack groundout in the bottom of the sixth, putting Culpeper up 10.

In that game, the Culpeper squad came out swinging, scoring early and often.

Post 330 grabbed a 2-0 in the bottom of the first despite Post 293 pitcher Ivan Anderson picking off two runners at first base.

Gardiner drew a two-out walk and scored when Mack lined a double to centerfield. Powell then blooped a single to centerfield, plating Mack.

Culpeper was back at it in the second. Pitcher Nic Donovan started the inning with a single, stole second and came around to score on a Brian Thompson single.

Thompson later scored on an error by Purcellville shortstop Jason Ripley.

Meanwhile, Donovan was sharp on the mound. He rolled through a pair of 1-2-3 innings to start the game before giving up a pair of runs in the third. Donovan struck out four and walked one.

Powell replaced Donovan, and continued to baffle the Post 293 hitters, keeping them off balance by mixing a curveball in with his fastball.

Culpeper put the game away for good in the fifth, scoring seven times. Scott walked and Geoff Ward singled to start the inning. After Gardiner advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, Purcellville elected to intentionally pass Mack. Powell made Post 293 pay, singling down the left field line to score two. After Aaron Raiford and Brian Thompson walked to reload the bases, Garret Cole hit an RBI single and Scott hit his double.

Mack ended it in the sixth with his RBI groundout.

“They came to play today,” manager Jeff Crane said. “We’ve lost some really close games, and I had a little pow-wow this week and told them they had to make some adjustments.”

Post 330 started fast in the first game, too. After Purcellville scored in the top of the first, Culpeper went to work.

Scott led off the bottom of the first with a double and promptly moved to third on a balk. Later in the inning, Nolan Jenkins was hit by a pitch, and broke for second as Purcellville pitcher Carl Larsen pitched to Mack. The throw from the Purcellville catcher soared into centerfield, allowing Scott to score. Jenkins came home moments later when Mack tripled to center.

Purcellville took the lead back on a Matt Sustek three-run home run in the third.

But that’s all the scoring Post 293 would muster, and Post 330 capitalized on opportunities late in the game.

Gardiner singled, Jenkins doubled and Ethan Russell drew a walk to load the bases in the bottom of the third. Powell drew a walk to plate one run before Matt Ward hit a sacrifice fly to score another.

Culpeper took the lead in the fifth when Ethan Russell hit an infield single that scored Gardiner from third.

Scott hit a sacrifice fly to score Matt Ward in the sixth an Gardiner singled to plate Donovan to round out the scoring.

Pitching, considered a potential liability for the Culpeper team before the season, was again strong. Thompson, pitching in relief of John Lezcano in game one, coolly worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh. He surrendered three singles to start the inning. Then he got Trey Clark to fly out to center, Lewis Huggins to strike out, and Dan Fleming to fly out to end the game.

In game two, Donovan and Powell combined to limit Post 293 to four hits.

“We’re just looking forward to trying to win some more games and keeping this momentum going,” Mack said.

Post 330 continues its season next Sunday at home against Fauquier.

Jason Simcoe can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 166 or