By Brad Greer

Austin Jones drove in five runs on a double and three singles as the A’s used an 11-run third inning to out slug the Yankees 17-10 Thursday night in American Legion baseball play. In the second game of the night, the Royals fought off a late Red Sox rally to take a 6-4 victory.

The A’s broke open a 4-4 game by sending 15 batters to the plate in the third inning outburst as Scott Taylor and Austin Epps delivered a pair of two-run doubles while Jones added a run-scoring double and single in the frame. Jessie Pearson scored three runs on the night and drove in one run with a RBI double in the third.

Taylor, who also chipped in with a pair of doubles and three runs scored, picked up the win on the mound by going three innings before giving way to Braiden Scott who tossed the last two innings of the contest.

Ridge Simmerman and Tyler Beard both produced run-scoring singles as the A’s registered 12 hits in the game. Andy Linder led the Yankees at the plate with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Nathan Gabbard contributed with a two-run single in the third  while Morgan Tubbs chipped in with a double. Zac Bolen and Joby Elington rounded out the hits with one single apiece. Trey McGovern was the first of five pitchers used by the Yankees in the game as Elington, Bolen, Tyler Pogue and Chris Cassidy saw time on the mound.

In the second game of the night, Hunter Williams’ RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning to drive in Pez McGee gave the Royals a 6-3 lead. The Red Sox closed the gap to 6-5 in the top of the sixth but could not get any closer as Royals reliever Landon Fullilove retired Carter Avan to end the game.

Fullilove picked up the win by going the last three innings on the hill in relief of starter J. C. Harper who left the game in the third with the Royals trailing 2-1. Cody Harbour took the loss for the Sox in relief of Austin Towles

Hunter Bryant led the way with a two-run single for the Royals while Hammer Hankins added a double. Hunter Darby, Tyler Babb, and Harper all collected singles in the victory.

Harbour knocked in three runs on three singles to lead the Sox offensively. Adam Cook chipped in with two singles while Towles added a double and Cameron Brown singled in the loss.