St. Petersburg Post 14 has gone where no other area American Legion team was able to go after Wednesday's opening day at the Class A Southwest Area Championships:
To the winner's bracket.
Thursday night it made sure it stayed there.
Behind the six-hit pitching of Northeast High's Scott Moeller and the hitting of Pinellas Park's Steve Mullins, Post 14 beat Sarasota Riverview 9-2 at Lake Vista Park.
Post 14 plays at 7 tonight against Bradenton Post 24, arguably the tournament favorite because of a pitching roster that includes Devil Rays draft pick and USF signee Casey Hudspeth and Arizona draft choice Ryan Lacross.
Bradenton beat Venice on Thursday night.
It will have to contend with a hot Post 14 team. Moeller needed just over 90 pitches to set down Riverview, striking out eight. Mullins was 3-for-5 with four RBIs, three coming on a bases-loaded double in the eighth inning that sealed the win.
Nolan Brannon of St. Petersburg High added two RBIs and was 2-for-4.
Post 14 beat Sarasota on Wednesday 7-5 after squandering a 5-1 lead.
After Sarasota tied the score at 5 in the bottom of the eighth, Kevin Colon (Northeast) doubled to lead off the ninth and scored on a hit by Scott Dorman (Boca Ciega), who took second on the throw. Issac Jones (Northeast) followed with a hit to add an insurance run. Hector Latorre (Northeast) got the win.
Post 14 is one of two county teams left. Madeira Beach, which was the No.1 seed in the North Division, lost its opener Wednesday to Venice 6-1 and plays at 4 p.m. today in a loser's bracket game. If it wins, it will play at 7.
Post 252, made up predominantly of St. Petersburg Catholic players, was eliminated Thursday after its second straight loss.
