Two teams determined not to budge an inch -- Orangeburg Post 4 and West Ashley Post 147 -- opened the American Legion playoffs against one another Monday afternoon at Mirmow Field.

And with Post 4's Josh Strock going against Post 147's Zack Cook on the mound, neither team did for 10 innings. But, in the bottom of the 10th, Orangeburg's Brandon Berry laid down a walk-off bunt to score Cody Gethridge and give Post 4 a 1-0 win and the series lead.

Strock gave up back-to-back singles in the first before settling down. He retired 17 straight West Ashley batters before issuing his first walk of the night.

"Josh was phenomenal," Post 4 head coach Frank Leysath said. "He pitched one hell of a ball game."

Strock walked two batters and struck out six in eight innings of work. He spent most of the game sitting on a bench, away from his teammates and talking little, in an effort to maintain his focus.

Meanwhile, Cook was having a stellar evening as well. The West Ashley starting pitcher struck out eight batters, walked three, and surrendered five hits in a nine-inning performance.

And while Strock and Cook cruised, the offenses sputtered.

"We have to be more patient," Post 147 head coach Tony Cadden said. "We did that towards the end of the game, but they made the plays when they had to. We just have to do a better job of being patient at the plate."

Cook began the 10th inning with a lead-off walk to Chase Bell. Leysath immediately replaced Bell with pinch-runner Cody Gethridge while Cadden substituted Derrick Wheatley for Cook. In the following at-bat, Rick Boyles reached on a fielder's choice. Wheatley attempted to get the forced out at second, but the speedy Gethridge beat the throw. Brandon Berry had the opportunity to drive in the winning run with a base hit to the outfield. Instead, he did the unexpected. He bunted.

The ball made its way past the pitcher and second baseman Chuck McLaughlin, who was hustling to cover first. It rolled towards the outfield grass as McLaughlin tried to retrieve the ball while Gethridge was waved home. Gethridge raced towards home and his teammates to celebrate their playoff win.

"This was a team effort tonight and that's what its about," Leysath said. "I'm proud of these guys."

Orangeburg now has a 1-0 series in the best-of-five matchup. Game 2 will be played on the road at West Ashley High School tonight at 7 p.m.

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