Colin Flurry homered twice, and the Tupelo 49ers cruised to a 10-4 win over Whitehouse (N.J.) on Day 1 of the American Legion World Series in Shelby, North Carolina, on Friday night.
Flurry was only one piece of an offensive outburst that began early. After plating a run in the first inning, Tupelo put up five in the second. Whitehouse got a run back in the top of the third, but Flurry’s first home run and a Brody Thompson RBI double made it a 7-1 game entering the fourth.
The Niners (25-5-1) recorded 13 hits on the night, including three by Thompson, the team’s leadoff hitter. He, Flurry and Eli McDaniels finished with two RBIs each.
Flurry hit a solo shot in the fifth, and then Whitehouse scored three in the sixth to cut the lead to 9-4. Jonas Coleman stroked an RBI double for Tupelo in the bottom half.
Tupelo’s five-run second was sparked by Thompson’s RBI single. A McDaniels double scored two more, and then Brayden Edmiston and Wyatt McDaniels each drove in a run for a 6-0 advantage.
Jordan Evers and J.D. Whitaker combined to pitch a four-hitter. Evers allowed one hit with five strikeouts and four walks over four innings and earned the win. Whitaker got the save, allowing three hits with three strikeouts and a walk in three innings.
Jackson Trego took the loss for Whitehouse (35-5).
The 49ers resume pool play Saturday at 2 p.m. Central against Lincoln (Neb.).