Cooper shuts down Post 1 Dodgers

Tuesday’s game between Post 179 Drillers and the Post 1 Dodgers was expected to be one of the best  American Legion games of the season. Fans were not disappointed as the Drillers from Sulphur won a 2-0 pitcher’s duel behind a 12 strikeout one-hitter from Ryan Cooper over the Post 1 Dodgers from Grand Lake at the newly renovated Alvin Dark Stadium at Legion Field in Lake Charles.

Cooper had a perfect game going though five and one-third innings before Jacob Hebert hit an infield single with one out in the top of the sixth inning. Cooper faced just two batters over the minimum for seven innings while starting the game with 16 pitches for a strikes before throwing his first ball of the game in the second inning with two outs.

Cooper threw just 37 pitches through four innings but started to slow down some starting in the fifth prompting Driller’s coach Robert Hinson to look at relieving his starter but that was not in Cooper’s game plan.

“I wanted to take Cooper out but he did not want to leave the game,” Henson said. “It was his game.”

Despite nearing 100 pitches for the game and getting into three full-count situations in the final inning, Cooper proved he still had a little more in the tank and struck out the side in the top of the seventh.

“I felt good,” Cooper said. “My team played great defense behind me.

“We showed up to win and we wanted it more than the other team.”

Post 179 (4-0) committed just one error in the game and pulled of some stunning plays in the field.

With one out in the top of the third, Hebert hit a high popup that looked to be going foul near the first base dugout but Driller’s first baseman Paul White was able to get his glove over the top of the fence to snag the ball for the second out of the inning.

In top of the fourth Post 1’s Alex Myers nailed a line drive that looked like it would be the Dodgers’ first hit of the game but Post 179 shortstop Ben Dougherty made a fully extended leaping catch to keep the no-hitter going.

Post 1’s (2-2) Hunter Leger kept the Cyclones guessing at the plate most of the game while allowing just two runs on four hits and strikeout eight but Post 179 finally broke through in the bottom of the third inning.

Left fielder Corey Briggs broke up Leger’s no-hit bid with a lead off single to left field and stole second during the next at bat. Speedy center fielder Jacob Theriot turned a sacrifice bunt into an infield single, moving Briggs to third.

Leger then gave up his only walk of the game to Lance Hawkins to load the bases. Blake Rhodes then sent a high pop up to left field but Post 1’s Darrius Piper could not hold on to the ball allowing Briggs to score from third.

Rhodes also had a hand in the Driller’s only other run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Theriot led off with a triple to the right field fence and Rhodes followed with a blast to center field that like it would leave the park but Dodgers’ center fielder Ryant Piper caught the ball at the fence turning the play into a sacrifice fly to score Theriot.

“That is the game we have been waiting on,” Henson said. “It looked like we were headed for a 0-0 game but that was the big hit of the game by Briggs.

“Of course Theriot’s triple was important also.”

The Dodgers’ only threat came in the top of the sixth when Hebert hit a one-out single and Piper reached base on an error with two outs but Cooper kept the shutout going by striking out Myers to end the inning.

The Driller’s game on today (June 18th) will be a battle between the two remaining undefeated teams in the local Legion district. The 4-0 Post 1 Jaxx-Blue will play the 4-0 Drillers today at 4 p.m. at Alvin Dark Stadium at Legion Field on the corner of 1st Avenue and 1st Street behind the former Lake Charles-Boston High School campus.

Henson expects to start Tyler McDonald on the mound who is coming off of three innings of no-hit ball on Monday against the Post 1 Braves.