ALBANY — An era of championship baseball ended in Albany on Monday night.

Douglasville Post 45 erased a five-run deficit, exploding for 12 runs in the fifth and sixth innings, to defeat Conyers Post 77 19-12 in the American Legion state championship game.

Conyers, which forced a deciding Game 2 with a 9-7 win earlier in the day, was coming into the tournament as the two-time defending state champion.

Post 77 led 9-4 before Post 45 scored eight times in the fifth to take the lead for good.

“I expected a sort of a slugfest, and it happened,” Conyers coach Eddie Bagwell said. “They swung it, we swung it. We just had that one bad inning we couldn’t stop the bleeding. We didn’t recover well (but) I was real proud of my guys, they refused to lay down or to allow it to become a 10-run (run-ruled) game and end it early.”

After the game, Bagwell, who is also the pitching coach at Salem High School, confirmed this was his last game as Conyers head coach. Bagwell said it was the best decision for him and his family, though Post 77’s run this weekend in Albany, which included four consecutive victories after an opening-round loss to Loganville Post 233 on Friday, made it difficult to walk away.

“The biggest compliment I can pay these guys, about me being done, they made it very difficult for me to walk away ... they made it real special,” Bagwell said. “It’s just in the best interest for me and the family. I couldn’t ask for a better group to have in my last year.”

Bagwell’s bunch looked destined for dissapointment at the state level after a tough last few weeks to the regular season, which included the first loss to Alpharetta Post 201 in five seasons. But once in the losers bracket after the 8-0 loss to Loganville, Conyers turned it on, capping a strong two-day run with a 9-1 win over Loganville and a 16-2 shelling of Rockdale Post 77 to reach the title series.

“If you would’ve said to me three weeks ago after we lost to Loganville and lost to Alpharetta that we’d be playing a state championship game, I would’ve bet all the money in the world against that happening,” Bagwell said. “Greatest compliment of all was from the umpire (Monday). He said, ‘This is the third game I’ve had you umpiring ... you have a class program.’ It’s a testament to these kids and their families and the way they were brought up. I was real proud of the guys; they’re a special group of young men.”

Conyers forced the deciding Game 2 on some eighth inning heroics from No. 2 hitter Taylor Jackson.

In a 7-7 game, Jackson, who has come alive during the state tournament after struggling at the plate for much of the summer, launched a go-ahead, two-run home run to put Post 77 up 9-7. It was Jackson’s third home run of the state tournament.

He wasn’t done. After throwing 116 total pitches in Conyers’ victories over Leesburg Post 182 and Rockdale Post 77 in elimination games, the rising sophomore at Andrew College pitched a scoreless ninth inning to close out the win.

“We went crazy; it was fun,” Bagwell said of the atmosphere in the dugout after the home run. “(Jackson had) had a tough summer (hitting), but he’s had a good tournament. He’s come alive.”

Conyers ace Beau Thomas pitched a gutsy six-plus innings, allowing four runs, including a solo home run leading off the top of the seventh.

“I would’ve never guessed we get seven innings out of him, unbelievable. He stepped up big time, pitched his butt off,” Bagwell said. “He just dodged bullets, pitched out of trouble. I was real proud of him.”

Left-hander Ryan Conner relieved and served up a two-run home run and a solo shot as Douglasville tied the game at 7-7. But Conner settled down and kept the game even, helping set up Jackson’s heroics.

ALBANY — For the first time in three years, Conyers Post 77 has its back against the wall early in the Georgia American Legion State Tournament.

Loganville Post 233 defeated Conyers 8-0 in the first round of the tournament at Darton College, knocking the two-time defending state champion into the losers bracket. Conyers will play tonight at 7 p.m. against either Leesburg Post 182, Rockdale Post 77 or Albany Post 30.

Right-hander Aaron Barfield allowed seven of the runs and took the loss for Conyers, which could only muster five hits as its summer-long offensive struggles continued.

“Offensively we just didn’t string anything together. If we get a leadoff hitter (on base) right now, we don’t have the ability to move him over. Not for lack of trying. That’s not a slam, we just may not have it in us,” said Conyers coach Eddie Bagwell. “Heck, 8-0, the way we’re scoring, it doesn’t matter. We could have had Tim Hudson there putting up zeroes.”

Conyers is now in the position its first-round opponents were in after one day during Post 77’s runs to the 2009 and 2010 state titles: It must win five consecutive games in four days.

“We put ourselves in this position. Now how can we respond. Can we respond?” Bagwell said. “I don’t know, I honestly don’t know. Anything can happen, obviously. If you still have outs you have a chance. Do or die every game.”

Rockdale’s first round game with Albany Post 30 was completed after press time.

CONYERS — It’s late July and for the first time in three years, the Conyers Post 77 baseball team appears vulnerable on the opening day of the Georgia American Legion State Tournament.

The two-time defending state champions head into this season’s tournament, which begins today and runs through July 26 at Paul Eames Park in Albany, as the No. 3 seed. But lately, Conyers hasn’t been playing like a team that’s capable of winning its third consecutive state crown.

Conyers split a doubleheader with Alpharetta Post 201 in its regular season finale Monday, with the 9-6 loss in Game 2 accounting for Alpharetta’s first win over Conyers in five years.

That hasn’t been the only hiccup.

In the only two regular season games Conyers played against defending state runner-up Douglasville, this year’s top seed, Post 77 lost by a combined score of 42-14. The teams were supposed to play a second doubleheader in Douglasville, but never could get the games in because of rainouts.

Conyers split with Loganville Post 233, and in regular season games against Post 77 rival Rockdale, Conyers was shut out in the opener and needed a walk-off hit in the bottom of the seventh to survive in Game 2.

Still, Conyers is capable of getting hot in tournament play. It won five consecutive games, including two over Rockdale, in mid-June to win the POW/MIA Tournament for the second consecutive season.

Coach Eddie Bagwell, who has 10 new players on this year’s team and recently lost one of his top hitters — Josh Bailey — to a summer internship in Washington, D.C., made it clear that this is a much different Post 77 team than the one that scored 80 runs in five state tournament games in 2010 and was one of the top teams at the Southeast Regional in Columbia, S.C.

“This team is not defending a title,” Bagwell said. “We’re going (to Albany) as defending state champions, but this team is not the state champs. We’re starting brand new just like everybody else. The record’s out the window ... everybody’s starting 0-0. But if something doesn’t click with our team, we could be two games and home. That’s the reality of our team.

“On the other hand, we could all of a sudden get it together, get mad, and really put it together and get on the roll at the right time. Our pitching is pretty good, we’ve got enough pitching that we should be competitive.”

The pitching starts with two of the state’s finest hurlers in Beau Thomas and Taylor Jackson, former teammates at Alcovy High School and rising sophomores at Andrew College. The left-handed Thomas has been Post 77’s ace all summer with Jackson not far behind.

After that, right-handers Aaron Barfield, Randy Loew, Ryan Gasque and Jimmy Gerard and southpaw Ryan Conner let Bagwell go seven deep.

While Conyers can boast one of the top staffs in the state, the problems in 2011 have been at the plate.

Bailey, who is a rising sophomore at Piedmont College, had been one of the few consistent hitters in a lineup that includes last year’s state tournament MVP Kevin Dawkins and No. 3 hitter Thomas. The inability to capitalize on opportunities with men in scoring position has cost Conyers in four of its six losses.

“I am not disappointed in the effort that our players are giving. The problem is we’re just not getting the job done. Sooner or later we got to come up with a clutch hit,” Bagwell said. “I got to believe, and I got to hope that maybe something positive will happen (but) I’m worried. We’re not playing good baseball.”

Post 77 opens with Alpharetta at 4 p.m. today.

COVINGTON — Rockdale Post 77 ended the regular season strong, giving manager Jack Murphy a good feeling as the American Legion baseball tournament takes place starting Friday in Albany and lasts though Tuesday.

“After two or three days in a motel you tend to get rather bored and tired. It’s not like living at home. If you’re at home getting up going to the ball field it’s better because you’re getting a good night sleep,” Murphy said. “These guys will sit up until midnight or later, even with a curfew, talking. Then they won’t want to get up in the morning. I’d rather stay close to home and play it.”

One thing in Rockdale’s (30-7 overall, 21-5 in area play) favor is that they have seen every team in the state, even the two teams in south Georgia — Albany and Leesburg.

In the tournament played in Albany earlier this season, Rockdale beat the hometown club while easily taking care of Leesburg. Rockdale won the first game 21-3 before taking the second game 10-3.

“That’s the reason I went to Albany for their tournament, to see those guys down there,” Murphy said.

The winner of the state tournament will have a chance to compete in the Southeast Regional Tournament in Sumter, S.C., starting on Aug. 4 with the American Legion World Series taking place in Shelby, N.C., the following weekend.

Even with their success, Murphy is not ready to tell everyone to stay home and hand him the title. He knows that they’re going to have to go out and earn it if they want it.

“You never know what will happen when you get into a state tournament,” Murphy said. “You could get hot.”

While Post 77 has the bats going well enough to produce enough runs off the bats of Cody Wofford, Robert Bell, Corey Harmon, Justin Guy, Cole Peeples and Brad Blount, what gives Murphy reason to pause winning state is his lack of pitching.

“Right now, we really don’t have an ace pitcher. Everyone just goes out there and does their job on the mound. We’ve been waiting on Kevin Martin to get with us,” Murphy said

“Offensively, I don’t worry about it. I worry about our pitching depth getting through the tournament. You have to play five, nine-inning games to win it.”

Murphy feels that his biggest competition will come from Douglasville and Conyers Post 77. However, the losses Rockdale took at their hand were early in the season. With the way they’ve been playing lately, it could be anyone’s game.

Rockdale should start the tournament playing Albany Post 30 in the first game of the series in a seven-team tournament. Even though Murphy has not seen the bracket, he feels that Rockdale will be the No. 2 seed with Conyers taking the third seed and Douglasville going in as No. 1.

“Normally you play 10 teams but we had Peachtree City, Cummings and Canton, in our area, who opted not to go,” Murphy said. “When you’re in a league you’re obligated to complete the season, in my opinion. If I were 5-15, I’d be embarrassed to have a record like that, but I’d still go.”

ALPHARETTA — The two-time defending American Legion state champions were stunned Monday in Alpharetta.

Conyers Post 77 lost Game 2 of a doubleheader 9-6 to Alpharetta Post 201, the first time Conyers has lost to Alpharetta in five years.

Conyers won the first game 6-5 and heads into this weekend’s state tournament as the No. 3 seed.

Unlike the past two seasons when Conyers entered the state tournament as one of the favorites, Post 77 begins this year’s tournament as a question mark.

“We’re not playing good baseball,” coach Eddie Bagwell said. “Let me be real positive in saying this: Every team, their records only matter as far as the seeding is concerned. The records go out the window otherwise, everybody starting 0-0. But if something doesn’t click with our team, we could be two games and home. That’s the reality of our team. (But) that could be true with anybody’s team.”

Conyers led the nightcap 2-0 before Alpharetta took the lead for good with five runs in the third inning against right-hander Ryan Gasque. Post 77’s problems scoring continued as it left six runners on base through the first three innings.

Bagwell said his team’s effort is up to par, just not the results on the scoreboard.

“I am not dissapointed in the effort that our players are giving; the problem is, we’re just not getting the job done,” said Bagwell. “The effort is there. I’ve got to believe, and I’ve got to hope that maybe something positive will happen.”

A positive from Monday was the extra-inning win in the opener. Beau Thomas led the way by going 4-for-5. Jeremy Sparks (3-for-5), Taylor Jackson (3-for-4) and Seth Allen (2-for-4) all contributed big nights.

But if Conyers is to win its third consecutive state championship, those nights are going to have to continue, while top two starters Thomas and Jackson will have to be the ace pitchers they’ve been for much of the summer.

“Our pitching is pretty good. (But) sooner or later we’ve got to come up with a clutch hit,” Bagwell said. “We’re not going into this tournament playing well. I will say this about this team — they do care. They’re upset about it as anybody. You can’t ask for any better effort. I’m not sure that’s not part of the problem, we’re pressing so hard.”

The matchups for the first round were not set at press time, though Bagwell believes his No. 3-seeded team could play Alpharetta again in the opener Friday.

The state tournament runs through Tuesday and will be played at Paul Eames Field in Albany.

COVINGTON — Rockdale Post 77 American Legion baseball team improved its record, getting six wins over the weekend. However, it was not the way manager Jack Murphy envisioned them.

“This weekend we got six forfeits,” Murphy said. “I hate forfeits. I really do. It’s just part of the game I guess. It happens at the end of the season it seems.”

Four forfeit wins came from Canton with another coming from the Conyers team of Post 77. Even though Rockdale plans to play two games against Alpharetta starting at 6 p.m. today, the Conyers game will not be made up.

Rockdale and Alpharetta will start the first game in the fifth inning, where they left off in their last meeting, with the second seven-inning game starting as soon as the first one is over.

“That will probably be the last game (of the regular season),” Murphy said. “I don’t see the point of playing the one against Conyers on Wednesday with the state tournament on Friday. It isn’t important who finished second or third. It’s only important who wins the trophy.”

Even though Murphy admits that, unfortunately, forfeits have been part of American Legion baseball, it seems that the amount of teams forfeiting have increased lately.

While some American Legion teams complain because they’re not winning they refuse to spend money on travel and umpires, Murphy said it has more to do with players not wanting to show up and play like they used to.

“I’ve talked to several coaches from these travel teams (non-American Legion) and they complain about getting their players to show, there’s just no difference. There’s no dedication to (baseball) anymore,” Murphy said. “It seems like it gets worse every year.

“I think what causes all this is that kids are starting travel ball at such a young age and they burn out. By the time they’re 18 years old and they’re (high school) seniors they realize that they’ve been playing ball every summer and they want to have a vacation or go off.”

CONYERS — Summer thunderstorms wreaked havoc with American Legion baseball again Thursday.

Conyers led Rockdale 5-3 in the top of the fourth inning in Game 2 of a key doubleheader between Post 77 rivals when a massive rainstorm hit the Conyers area and suspended the game. No continuation date was set at press time, though it could be completed Wednesday.

Rockdale led 3-1 in the third before Conyers rallied against starter Kirk Gibson. The right-hander and recent graduate of Ola High School walked Beau Thomas and Kevin Dawkins to start the inning, then Jimmy Gerard reached on a bunt single. Gibson fell behind 2-0 to Tyler Sanders and the Conyers right fielder didn’t miss a fast ball, launching it over the left-field wall for a grand slam and a 5-3 lead. Conyers reloaded the bases, but reliever Justin Guy got a ground out to end the 10-batter frame.

In the fourth, Conyers had Sanders on first with two outs. Matt Reeves worked the count to 2-1 before lightning caused a 30-minute delay, which turned into a suspended game when the heavy rain began.

Rockdale walked off with an extra inning victory in the opener. In the bottom of the eighth facing Conyers starter Beau Thomas, Neal Gandee and Andrew Crumbley made outs to start the inning, but Thomas couldn’t get the final out. Cody Wofford singled on the first pitch he saw and Brad Blount walked. On an 0-1 pitch, Guy served a single over shortstop and Wofford raced home for the game-winner.

That made a winner out of Crumbley, who was excellent in relief of Wofford, who started, surrendered nine hits, but just two runs. Crumbley allowed just a seventh-inning single in pitching four shutout innings.

“He’s turned out to be real valuable to us, we were hoping that what was going to happen,” said Rockdale coach Jack Murphy. “He’s had some elbow problems and he didn’t pitch at all for his high school team this spring. The fact now that his arm seems to be healthy has been a big plus.”

Rockdale erased a 2-0 deficit, scoring a pair of runs on ground outs.

In the fourth, Wofford scored on a double play groundout, and in the sixth, Blount’s grounder chased home Crumbley to make it 2-2. Conyers built its lead on Ryan Conner’s run-scoring single in the second and when Thomas singled, stole second and scored on Joey Mitchell’s single an inning later. Conyers problems with runners on base continued during the two games. In the opener, the two-time defending state champions left 10 on base, five in scoring position, and in the three-plus innings in the nightcap left seven on, five in scoring position.

“We left too many runners in scoring position and it came back to bite us, which is the same old M.O. with us,” said Conyers coach Eddie Bagwell. “We can’t come up with a clutch hit and you’re not going to win it if we can’t come up with a clutch hit. I think the kids are pressing way too much right now.”

Despite the offensive struggles, the pitching continued to be a bright spot for Conyers. Thomas was a tough-luck loser in the opener, allowing three earned runs and striking out four in a 109-pitch effort. In the second game, a sloppy second inning saw Rockdale score three times on three Conyers errors, leaving Taylor Jackson with just one earned run and one hit allowed in three innings of work.

“Beau Thomas and Taylor, you can’t ask for anymore out of them. It’s just phenomenal the performances we’re getting out of them,” Bagwell said. “Thank that lord we got them because they are pitching lights out, all of our pitchers are pitching good actually.”

Conyers was supposed to play a makeup game with Alpharetta Post 201 Friday, but instead Post 77 won by forfeit. Rockdale will head to Cumming Post 307 for a doubleheader Sunday.

CONYERS — It didn’t seem like Rockdale Post 77 starter Wade Palmer wanted Saturday’s game against Alpharetta to end.

The right-hander threw four shutout innings, but not a single pitch after that as a heavy rain storm blanketed the area and forced the suspension of the opener, with the hosts up 4-0 in the top of the fifth, as well as the nightcap. No makeup dates had been announced at press time, though Rockdale coach Jack Murphy said the only two dates available for either team would be July 18 or 19.

“It’s one of those things, it’s July,” Murphy said. “I really needed to play these two today. I wanted to get these in.”

Palmer gave up a single to B.K. Womack and walked Nick Bray with one out in the second, then retired the final eight batters he faced, including recording the final six outs on just 15 pitches.

It was the first time Palmer, a recent graduate of Pike County High School in Zebulon, had pitched in nearly three weeks. In a 58-pitch effort, he walked two and struck out five, and allowed just Womack’s opposite field hit.

“He was a little rusty ... he started to get the feel for it,” Murphy said.

Rockdale, coming off a doubleheader split against Post 77 rival Conyers Thursday, got all its runs in the second against Alpharetta starter Chris Alchinger. Justin Guy walked to start the frame and Cole Peeples homered in his second consecutive game, a two-run shot to put Post 77 up 2-0.

“Big Cole, big home run,” Murphy said

Alchinger got a pair of outs, but had trouble getting the third and Rockdale made him pay. Andrew Crumbley, Cody Wofford, Chris Long and Corey Harmon singled in four straight trips to the plate, the last two of which scored Crumbley and Wofford for a 4-0 cushion. Alchinger settled down after that and allowed just a hit batsman and a single the rest of the way.

“I kept thinking we were going to jump on (Alchinger). I really kept feeling, hey, it was a matter of time,” Murphy said. “There’s a tendency to have a little let down (after the Conyers games).

With Henson-Carr Legion Field in bad shape after a nearly half hour storm, Conyers Post 77’s doubleheader with Canton Post 45, scheduled for today at 2 p.m., is in jeopardy.

“We took a tremendous amount of water (Friday night), I would think this field is not going to recover,” said Murphy.

CONYERS — After more than four hours of baseball Thursday at Henson-Carr Legion Field, Post 77 rivals Conyers and Rockdale were right back where they started when the evening began.

Josh Bailey’s walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh lifted Conyers to a 4-3 win in the nightcap after Rockdale, which came into the night a half game ahead of its Post 77 co-tenants for second place in the North Division, won the opener 4-0.

In a 3-3 game in the seventh of Game 2, Rockdale left-hander Luke Cathcart got the first two outs but walked Jeremy Sparks, then a wild pitch pushed him to second. Bailey ran the count to 2-2 before hitting a ground ball between first and second. Rockdale second baseman Justin Guy caught up to the ball, but hesitated, and his throw home was up the base line and late. As Sparks slid home safely, a raucous celebration ensued on the infield.

Rockdale had erased a 3-1 deficit to get the game tied against Conyers starter Taylor Jackson, who went the distance to pick up the win. Cole Peeples launched a solo home run leading off the fifth inning, then in the sixth, Corey Harmon’s groundout scored Cody Wofford to even things up.

Rockdale had its chances after that as it left a runner at second in the sixth and got the potential go-ahead run to third in the seventh before Jackson got Wofford to ground out to end the game.

“That’s the way it goes. We had opportunities, we didn’t take advantage of them,” said Rockdale coach Jack Murphy.

“We were very lucky to win one,” said Conyers coach Eddie Bagwell. “Josh Bailey at the end, that was a hell of an at-bat.”

Conyers grabbed the two-run lead in the third thanks to a Rockdale error. Sparks and Bailey had consecutive singles with two outs, and Beau Thomas’ harmless pop-up looked destined to be an inning-ending out. But Chad Kirksey dropped the ball and Sparks and Bailey scored.

“When you play Conyers and you play Douglasville, you can’t make errors. It’ll cost you,” Murphy said.

Harmon worked out of several jams to pitch six shutout innings in the opener. Conyers pushed at least one runner into scoring position in every inning but the fifth, but left 10 runners on base, seven in scoring position.

“Can’t get a clutch hit to save our ... life. You can’t do that against Rockdale and expect to win,” Bagwell said.

For Conyers, Thomas retired seven of the first eight batters he faced before Rockdale got the only run it would need in the third. Andrew Crumbley singled with one out, and two batters later, Kevin Dawkins dropped a throw at first and Crumbley scored from second.

Rockdale added to its lead in the fifth on Dakota Cole’s RBI single and in the seventh against Aaron Barfield when Harmon and Bell had consecutive run-scoring hits.

Thomas, who was pitching with a groin injury, allowed one earned run and scattered eight hits in six innings.

“Beau Thomas pitched a hell of a game. Pitchers are stepping up. We are not very good offensively, we can’t score runs,” Bagwell said.

“I’m not happy with a 1-1 split. I don’t think either one of us can brag too much,” Murphy said. “Overall the pitching tonight was good on both sides. You have 4-0 and 4-3; those are good games.”

Rockdale returns to Henson-Carr today in a doubleheader against Alpharetta Post 201 beginning at 1 p.m. Conyers hosts Canton Post 45 on Sunday in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.

CONYERS — It took four pitchers to do it, but Conyers Post 77 made history Tuesday in American Legion play at Henson-Carr Field.

Randy Loew, Ryan Conner, Taylor Jackson and Beau Thomas combined on a no-hitter in Post 77’s 8-0 win over Cumming Post 307. The win completed a doubleheader sweep after Conyers won the opener 7-3.

Loew, in his first season with Conyers, was coming off one of his rougher outings of the season — a June 28 loss to Loganville — but looked much better Tuesday. He helped himself in the second with a diving catch on a pop-up in front of the plate, and allowed just a walk and a hit batter in his first three innings.

In the fourth, Loew worked around a pair of walks to strike out the side and complete a 72-pitch evening.

Conner, the most important pitcher in the bullpen, and No. 2 starter Jackson each allowed a walk in an inning of work, while Thomas, the ace of the Post 77 staff, struck out the side in the seventh with electric stuff that capped the historic gem.

“Randy Loew did a good job for us; Randy pitched a good game,” said Conyers coach Eddie Bagwell, whose team improved to 11-3 in North Division play. “Beau and Taylor, they throw it up there. Biggest thing is, we really count on Taylor and Beau, we expect them to lead this team by example.”

Conyers got all the runs it would need in the first as Thomas turned on an inside fastball and laced a two-run double off the base of the left field wall.

In a four-run third, Tyler Sanders and Jeremy Sparks each had an RBI, and Adam Howard went down and got a low pitch and served it into center field for a two-run single that gave Post 77 a 7-0 lead.

“Little better Game 2. I thought we had better at-bats,” Bagwell said.

Bagwell, trying to find the right combination of starters to follow Thomas, Jackson and No. 3 starter Aaron Barfield, got an encouraging performance from Ryan Gasque in the opener.

The right-hander tossed 62⁄3 innings of three-run ball and struck out five, then ran into trouble in the sixth when he gave up consecutive run-scoring hits to Olin Bearden and Tyler King. But the rising senior at Heritage settled down to squirm out of that jam, then retired two of the three batters he faced in the seventh before Joe Salvador got a flyout to end the game.

“Ryan I thought threw well,” Bagwell said. “Ryan’s really nicely played himself into a strong starter’s spot. Ryan and Randy I thought they both threw well, you bet, 100 percent.”

Conyers got to Cumming starter Chase Williams with two in the third on RBIs from Levi Bonilla and Sparks, then pulled away in the fifth when Kevin Dawkins went opposite field with a two-run single.

When it appeared the inning would end on a groundout off the bat of Loew, Dawkins and Sanders scooted home on an error by second baseman Calvin Medlin to make it 7-0.

Post 77 rivals will collide when Conyers meets Rockdale Post 77 in a doubleheader beginning at 6 p.m today. Second-place Rockdale comes into the game at 10-1 in division play, with third-place Conyers just a half game back.

The teams met twice in non-division play during last month’s POW/MIA Tournament with Conyers winning both games 14-6 and 12-4.

“It’s a huge game ... it could have major influence on who is the No. 2 seed in the state tournament,” Bagwell said. “They obviously have something to prove (and) let’s be honest, (tonight) is also about bragging rights.”

CONYERS — The bottom of the second inning was all Rockdale Post 77 needed to complete a sweep Thursday.

In that frame, Rockdale sent 10 batters to the plate and scored seven times, leading to a 12-3 victory over Loganville Post 233. Rockdale got a great performance from right-hander Chad Kirksey to win the first game 11-3.

In the nightcap, Post 77 led just 1-0 before pouring it on in the marathon second. Loganville starter Ryan Finch got the first two outs on a line out and a strikeout, but things turned quickly after that.

Kirksey and Dakota Cole singled and Chris Long walked to load the bases. Finch’s wildness continued as he walked Brad Blount and hit Corey Harmon with a pitch to force in two runs. Then Finch’s wild pitch forced in another run and Robert Bell ripped a two-run double to make it 6-0 and chase Finch from the game.

Rockdale would add a run on an error and Cole Peeples capped the rally with a run-scoring single.

“They helped us out. They helped us an awful lot,” said Rockdale coach Jack Murphy. “A sweep’s a sweep. I’m happy with it.”

The run support helped get Luke Cathcart a win. The left-hander, a rising senior at Heritage High School, wasn’t at his best, falling behind in a number of counts, but worked around most of his six walks to get the victory. He walked two in the second, but got a double play and a strikeout to squirm out of trouble, then in the fourth, Cathcart’s final inning, Loganville got on the board on a fielder’s choice RBI from Nick Keener and Jacob Harrison’s RBI-single.

Though Kirk Gibson struggled in relief, not getting an out against the three batters he faced in the fifth, Andrew Crumbley and Long were excellent, allowing one base-runner in the final three innings of work.

“Normally our pitching is better than that. It’s a work in progress,” Murphy said. “Luke was kind of off tonight (and) we had some runs to work with. It was still a good win. Any time you win you can’t complain too much.”

Rockdale added to its lead in a wild fifth inning. Peeples led off with a walk and Crumbley bunted for hit and was called safe at first, though it appeared the throw had beaten him to the bag. That set off Loganville coach Jimmy Hughes, who was ejected after a lengthy argument. Later in the inning, Long added a two-run single to make it a 10-3 game.

Rockdale will take the next week off before returning to Henson-Carr Legion Field on July 7 against Post 77 rival Conyers. The doubleheader begins at 6 p.m.

CONYERS — A little over a week ago, Kyle Bailey was a tough-luck loser in Loganville Post 233’s 2-1 loss to Conyers Post 77.

On Tuesday, Bailey was a bit more fortunate. The right-hander pitched a complete game and the Loganville offense took advantage of eight walks to salvage a doubleheader split with a 10-5 win. Conyers, which had its 13-game winning streak snapped, won the opener 4-2.

Game 2 belonged to Loganville as the visitors took advantage of free passes and a sloppy Conyers defense. Post 77 starter Randy Loew struggled with his control in the second inning, walking three consecutive batters with one out. Garret Sizemore ripped a two-run double and two others scored on wild pitches to give Post 233 a 4-1 lead. Conyers got to within 5-4 with a three-run third, capped by Josh Bailey’s run-scoring single, but Loganville got the lead for good in the fourth against reliever Ryan Gasque thanks to a pair of errors that led to two unearned runs and Tim Azar’s two-run single.

“Loew didn’t have it, didn’t have it (and) they swing the bats pretty good,” said Conyers coach Eddie Bagwell. “We just got beat.”

Bailey had some control problems of his own-he walked six-but unlike Loew kept the damage to a minimum. He had trouble with the bottom two in the order — Taylor Jackson and Joey Mitchell — and the top three — Levi Bonilla, Jeremy Sparks and Bailey — as the quintet reached base in 11 of 17 plate appearances. But Bailey was efficient with the 4-5-6 hitters, retiring Kevin Dawkins, Seth Allen and Tyler Sanders in all but two of their 12 plate appearances.

“We didn’t get anything out of the middle of the order, we can’t come up with a clutch hit,” Bagwell said. “That happens. (Bailey is) a good pitcher.”

In the opener, Conyers got all the runs it would need in a nine-batter first inning against Loganville starter Jacob Harrison. Bonilla led off with a single, Bailey walked and Dawkins singled to load the bases. Allen, Jimmy Gerard and Loew followed with RBI-singles to put Post 77 up 3-0. Jackson, Conyers’ No. 2 starter, was in trouble nearly every inning, but did a good job of stranding seven base runners, including six in scoring position. Loganville got to within 4-2 in the fifth on an RBI-triple by Azar and Ryan Finch’s RBI-ground out, but Jackson retired eight of the last nine batters he faced to polish off a 107-pitch, complete game effort.

“I thought if T.J. doesn’t throw the game he does, we lose,” Bagwell said. “Taylor pitched very well and did not have his best stuff. He battled. I was real proud of him.”

Conyers has one of its longest breaks of the summer before returning to Henson-Carr Legion Field on Sunday in a doubleheader against Alpharetta Post 201, starting at 2 p.m.

CONYERS — If Conyers Post 77 is to win its third consecutive American Legion state baseball title, Aaron Barfield figures to have a prominent role. On Monday against Peachtree City Post 50, Barfield looked the part of an ace.

The right-hander pitched a complete game, seven hitter, striking out 10 in Post 77’s 5-2 win. Conyers completed the sweep with a 10-2 win in the nightcap, extending its winning streak to 12 games.

Barfield had an overpowering fastball and got a number of swings and misses from the Post 50 offense. He retired the first four batters he faced, three by strikeout, before Lance Shelton walked with one out in the second. After another strikeout, catcher Taylor Jackson picked off Shelton at second to end the inning. Barfield surrendered Nick Padlo’s solo home run in the fourth, and Peachtree City got a run on a ground out in the seventh, but that was all the visitors would get against Barfield, a rising senior at Rockdale High School.

“I was real happy with Aaron. For him to be successful long term, he’s got to get the ball down. He’s a lot better pitcher pitching ahead,” said Conyers coach Eddie Bagwell.

Facing Shelton in a 1-1 game in the fifth, Conyers took the lead for good. Josh Bailey and Kevin Dawkins had one-out singles, Bailey looked to be picked off at second, but Shelton’s throw sailed into center field to allow the tie-breaking run to score. After a ground out, Tyler Sanders ripped a two-run home run to put Post 77 up 4-1.

Conyers didn’t waste any time taking the lead for good in Game 2. With two outs in the first, Bailey walked, went to second on a passed ball and later came around to score. Post 77 batted around in the second and scored five times, the big hits coming from Dawkins (two-run double) and Ryan Gasque (two-run single). Sanders added two doubles, the last of which drove in a run in the fifth, and in his last four games the first-year Legion player has reached base in eight of 13 plate appearances and has driven in five runs.

“He’s swinging extremely hot right now,” Bagwell said of Sanders. “Tyler’s got a lot of potential with his ability to hit. They (make a) mistake middle-in, he’s going to punish you.”

The offensive outburst made a winner out of Ryan Conner. The left-hander allowed three hits and four walks, but just one earned run in four innings of work, striking out five.

“We got some good pitching performances tonight. Real happy with the pitching,” Bagwell said.

Conyers returned to Henson-Carr Legion Field on Tuesday in a doubleheader against Loganville Post 233.

DOUGLASVILLE — Through the early portion of the American Legion baseball season, Conyers Post 77 has displayed an uncharacteristic propensity to be aggressive on the base paths and use their speed to score runs.

But Saturday, the two-time defending state champions showed they can win with the long ball as well. Beau Thomas hit a game-changing grand slam and Tyler Sanders also homered and drove in three runs in Conyers 14-6 victory over Rockdale Post 77 in the final round robin game of the POW/MIA Tournament at Alexander High School.

Conyers finished 3-0 in pool play and clinched the No. 1 seed from the MIA division, earning a spot in the first semifinal against the No. 2 seed from the POW division today at 10 a.m. Rockdale, at 2-1, is the No. 2 seed and will play in the other semifinal against the POW division No. 1 seed at 1 p.m.

“Our guys were up, obviously they knew what was at stake and we talked before the game about ... the reason I like this tournament, playing Rockdale (Saturday) is game three is in my opinion the biggest game of the tournament, tonight was the biggest game of this tournament,” said Conyers coach Eddie Bagwell. “We went into it with the mindset of using this as a barometer for ourselves, so far in three games, I’m real proud of our guys, they have stepped up, they stepped up tonight. Never let the gas up, kept the pressure up. Everybody was locked in.”

After an hour and 16 minute rain delay in the top of the third and Rockdale catcher Brad Blount’s long, three-run home run in the bottom of the third, Conyers led just 6-4.

But things opened up quickly in the top of the fourth. Former Rockdale High School teammates Ryan Conner and Jeremy Sparks reached on a single and walk to open the frame and after a fly out, Josh Bailey singled to load the bases. That signaled the end of the night for left-hander Ryan Knight, and Conyers provided an unkind greeting for new pitcher Wade Palmer.

The right-hander’s first offering was crushed to left-center field by Thomas for a grand slam and a 10-4 lead. Kevin Dawkins struck out yet reached on a wild pitch and after a strike out, Tyler Sanders launched a two-run home run to put the game out of reach.

“When they came in and made it 6-4 then we came up and we doubled up and scored six the next inning, that was huge,” Bagwell said. “Tonight, this team looked like a team that was ready to win and acted like it.”

Rockdale got the first run of the game against Thomas. The Conyers ace couldn’t work around a throwing error by third baseman Randy Loew to start the game, allowing an RBI-single to Blount three batters later.

Rockdale starter Justin Guy retired the first four batters of the game, but Conyers quickly took its first lead of the game in the second. Seth Allen reached on an error and Sanders followed with a scorching, run-scoring double to the opposite field. Two walks to Taylor Jackson and Conner preceded Sparks’ two-run single to make it a 3-1 game.

Conyers Post 77 has rebounded nicely following its first two losses of the season.

The two-time Georgia American Legion state champions swept Cumming Post 307 Monday, winning 3-1 and 12-0 to extend their winning streak to five games.

In the opener, right-handers Randy Loew and Taylor Jackson combined to shut down the Post 307 lineup. Loew, in his first season with Conyers, struck out six and scattered three hits in 41⁄3 innings, while Jackson threw 22⁄3 shutout innings.

As Post 77 and coach Eddie Bagwell search for a No. 4 starter, Loew’s name has moved to the top of the list, while Jackson, the team’s regular starter at catcher, has been excellent on the mound in helping Conyers start the season 7-2.

“He had good control, threw a lot of strikes,” Bagwell said of Loew. “Taylor came in and was typical Taylor. 100 percent, Taylor is stepping up big for us. He’s going to be (in) a starting role and a closing role for us. I think catching has helped him understand the strike zone better. He’s fearless.”

Conyers opened things up in the nightcap, turning an early 2-0 lead into a laugher. Left-handed ace Beau Thomas struck out 12 to get the win and added a solo home run.

In a five-run fifth inning, Kevin Dawkins got one of his three hits and stayed red-hot at the plate. Dawkins was 4-for-8 and drove in two runs in the doubleheader and in the last five games, Dawkins has reached base in 15 of 21 plate appearances.

“Game 2, big two-RBI hit, his confidence is real big right now,” Bagwell said of Dawkins. “It seems like no one can get him out.”

Conyers hasn’t lost since a doubleheader sweep at the hands of Douglasville Post 145 June 7, and with the annual POW/MIA Tournament beginning Thursday at Alexander High School, Post 77 is one of the hotter teams in the state. Bagwell, though, is not as confident in his team just yet.

“After (Monday’s) games, I don’t feel real good, I’m not real comfortable as a team,” Bagwell said. “One of the things we talked about as a team, we need to start playing with more confidence, we’re too cocky. We have to avoid getting into a war of words with other teams. I challenged them (Monday), they haven’t earned that jersey on their body. I just think we’re learning, we got too many guys learning how to play the game right. When you play a team that’s, frankly — and I don’t in any way want to disrespect Cumming — but we should’ve handled them with ease. We never put them away and it was disappointing. It’s part of the growing process.”

Post 77 opens up the tournament Thursday at 7:30 p.m. against Alpharetta Post 201, then plays Friday at 1:45 p.m. against Canton Post 45 before battling Rockdale Post 77 Saturday at 5:15 p.m. The top two teams in each of the two divisions play in the semi finals Sunday, beginning at 10 a.m.

“We’ve got a talented group of young men (but) we have yet to play a game of intensity or energy. I am looking for that intensity,” Bagwell said. “I expect a different approach Thursday.”

CONYERS — The Rockdale Post 77 players showed they have hitting power, sending nine or more batters to the plate in five different innings in a doubleheader sweep of Cumming on Saturday at Hansen-Carr Field.

Rockdale won the first game 16-0 before run-ruling the second game as well with a 12-2, five-inning victory.

In the first game, Rockdale had nine or more hitters in the second, third and fourth inning, scoring five, five and six runs.

Everyone in the lineup went to the plate in the second and third inning in the second game, scoring five and six runs.

“It’s good for getting your team and bringing them together. They’re having fun and they’re enjoying it,” Rockdale manager Jack Murphy said. “We have some sticks.”

In the eight inning, when Rockdale sent 11 batters to the plate and they all hit, they combined for 22 hits, including eight for extra bases.

Robert Bell had two doubles and a home run as he went 3-for-3. Cole Peeples, who went 3-for-7, had a ground-rule double and almost had a second one, but the ball hit the fence two inches too low.

Also getting extra-base hits were Cody Wofford (double), Kirk Gibson (triple), Justin Guy (home run) and Brad Blount, who hit a grand slam.

Pacing Post 77 at the plate was Dakota Cole, who went 4-for-5.

“I think we have a good offensive team, we’re going to score runs. Our hitting is good but our defense is not where we want it to be,” Murphy said.

Rockdale also showed it has a few good pitchers as well. Cole Hamilton got the first win, allowing three hits while striking out three and walking one.

In the second game, Wade Palmer faced 24 batters in his five innings, striking out five batters while walking three and allowing six hits.

While Rockdale is solid offensively, Murphy is being forced to put players in positions they don’t normally play. As a result, a few Post 307 players reached base that should not have due to two Rockdale errors.

“The guys that are here are playing out of position, but they’re playing great baseball and they’re putting forth good effort. They’re all playing hard and pulling for each other,” Murphy said.

“It seems like we’re going to have pretty good chemistry, and that’s the main thing. If we can go (today) to Alpharetta with our pitching staff and get a split, I’ll be happy. I’d like to go up there and sweep them, but if we can’t that’s fine.”

CONYERS — After falling 6-3 to Douglasville in the first game of its season-opening American Legion doubleheader Saturday, Rockdale Post 77 quickly learned to adjust.

“I want to see what kind of team we have going in,” Rockdale manager Jack Murphy said. “We were right with them (in the first game) if we’re not walking everybody. You take away the walks and it could be very interesting in that first game. The second game, when we got the pitching, we were right there with them.”

Post 77 was leading the second game 2-1 after four complete innings before the game was suspended because the umpires had a prior engagement. The second game will be completed July 10 when Rockdale travels to Douglasville before playing a seven-inning doubleheader.

Post 145 took the lead in the top of the first inning before adding two more runs in the fourth. The first run came off a wild pitch following a balk. A sacrifice for Douglasville’s first out allowed the second run of the inning to score.

Taking ample advantage of Rockdale’s poor defensive play, Douglasville scored three more runs in the fifth inning to take a 6-0 lead.

“Thursday night, when we had the practice game, that was the first time these guys have been together and we’ve been able to get them a bullpen,” Murphy said. “Some of them haven’t pitched for over a month. They showed signs of doing good, but walks killed us in that first game. I don’t think (Douglasville) had three or four hits total.”

The home team had a chance to severely cut into Douglasville’s lead in the bottom half of the fifth inning when Post 77 had the bases loaded with one out. After plating one run as a result of a walk, Rockdale left the runners stranded.

Rockdale scored two more in the final inning on a single by Blake Edwards and an error on Douglasville shortstop Dempsey Abernathy.

“We started getting a little bit of offense in the late innings, but it was too little, too late,” Murphy said.

In the second game, it looked like Douglasville was going to start where it left off in the first game when they scored first on a Seth Wessenger home run off Ryan Knight. But Knight and the rest of the defense settled down, stopping Douglasville.

Trailing after one inning, Post 77 took the lead on a Chris Long double in the second.

No one was able to mount much of an offense in the final two innings before the game was stopped.

“In the first game we learned a little something,” Murphy said. “In the second game, we were getting a little pitching and got a timely hit when we needed it and we’re ahead. I can’t complain. I know when we play them the next time up there in July we’re going to be better than what we were (Saturday).

“The reason you want to schedule Douglasville is because there’s this (pre)conception in these counties that Legion baseball is like girls softball; that we don’t play anybody,” Murphy said. “How do you dispel that? You (get) the toughest team in your area to play you first so they know that this ain’t no joke. You have to come ready to play.”

CONYERS — American Legion Post 77’s Conyers team has won two consecutive state championships, but coach Eddie Bagwell thinks he may have a rebuilding project on his hands this summer.

Meanwhile, Post 77’s Rockdale team, coached by Jack Murphy, could conceivably keep the state crown in the community for a third straight season.

Both teams kick off their respective 2011 campaigns this week, with the defending state titlists playing a doubleheader tonight in Canton and the Rockdale club hosting Douglasville for two games on Saturday after hosting a practice game at 6:30 p.m. today against East Cobb.

Although Conyers returns a number of talented players — including Piedmont College’s Josh Bailey, a former Salem standout — Bagwell isn’t sure yet what kind of team he’ll field this season.

“We’ll have a better feel for things after (tonight),” said Bagwell, an assistant coach at Salem who is also coaching the Seminoles’ summer-league squad. “The challenge comes when you have to replace some of the great pitching we’ve had for the last couple of years. Those were quality, high-level players and they’re not easily replaced.”

But make no mistake about it — Bagwell is pleased with what his 18-man roster has displayed thus far.

“I like this team,” he said. “We may not have a stopper yet, but I like the quality and depth of our pitching staff. And what I really like is that they come to play — they’ve bought into what we’re doing out here and the level of effort they’re giving is really high.”

Besides Bailey, who hit .279 with 25 runs and 22 RBIs for Piedmont this spring, Conyers will showcase Legion veterans Bo Thomas and Taylor Jackson (both from Alcovy and Andrew College), Kevin Dawkins (Rockdale, Andrew College), Ryan Conner (Rockdale), Aaron Barfield (Rockdale), Levi Bonilla (Salem) and Jimmy Gerard (Salem).

“This is probably the deepest team we’ve had,” said Bagwell, who enters his fifth season as Conyers’ head coach. “We’ve got 18 guys who can play. Do I think we can win it all again? That’s hard to say because Douglasville and Rockdale are going to be the teams to beat in our league this summer.”

While Bagwell’s team is comprised exclusively of east metro players, Murphy’s Rockdale club features competitors from around the region, including a host of Henry County players and even five young men from Pike County, which reached the Class AA state finals before falling to Buford.

“We’ve got five guys from Pike County,” said Murphy, who has coached Legion baseball in Rockdale County for two decades. “I can’t believe they want to come all the way from Zebulon to play for us, but they’re all fine ballplayers.”

Murphy is particularly enamored with a pair of local pick-ups, Heritage’s Cole Peeples and Luke Cathcart. Peeples, a second-team All-Region 8-AAAA selection, posted a 1.96 ERA and a team-leading 15 RBIs for the Patriots this spring and left-hander Cathcart will pitch and play first base.

The veteran coach feels good about his team but knows any Legion squad is just an injury or two from disaster.

“At the start of the (2010) season, I thought we had the best team in the state, but we lost three or four guys to injury and that really set us back,” he said. “We’ve got 18 on the roster and once the roster is set, you can’t replace anybody unless they join the military or pass away. If guys get hurt, you’ve just got to suck it up. We tried to play the state tournament last year with 12 or 13 guys and we just didn’t have enough depth.”