For the last 40 continuous years, and most of the past 70 years, American Legion baseball has been as much a part of life in these parts as, well, apple pie, Chevrolet, and the flag.
Deven Marrero's one-out RBI single in the 12th inning lifted No. 1 national seed Arizona State over Arkansas in the Tempe super regional on Saturday night.
Brooks Conrad filled in neatly for Chipper Jones, making two nice plays at third base and then driving in the go-ahead run with a squeeze bunt in the ninth inning Saturday night that lifted the Atlanta Braves over Minnesota, 3-2.
Jake Smith got Alabama started then made sure the Crimson Tide held on for a 5-4 victory over Clemson in Saturday night's opening game of the NCAA Clemson Super Regional.
Austin Maddox's two-out RBI double in the 10th inning lifted Florida to a 4-3 victory Saturday night over error-prone Miami and gave the Gators their sixth trip to the College World Series.
Blake Cooper worked seven innings of six-hit ball and South Carolina twice escaped bases-loaded jams down the stretch to move a win away from the College World Series with a 4-3 victory over Coastal Carolina on Saturday.
Down but not out, it's been Vanderbilt's story much of the season. The resilient Commodores have now won four straight elimination games during the week and need a win Sunday over Super Regional host Florida State to earn their first trip to the College World Series.
