T&D Sports Editor Brian Linder can be reached via e-mail at blinder@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5553. Check out his blog, Welcome to Linderland, at www.thetandd.com

Frank Leysath had to have been counting on his team getting some kind of reward for winning the League IV title.

And, indeed, the Orangeburg American Legion Post 4 baseball team did get a reward – opening the first round of the playoffs against the third place team, Conway, from League II at Mirmow Field at 7:30 tonight. Well, that’s kind of a reward.

"Before the season started," Leysath said. "I can remember seeing on the Sumter Web site that Conway was picked to be one of the top teams in the state."

Leysath’s memories were confirmed Saturday at the meeting of Legion coaches when he asked Lake City head coach Joey Weatherford what he thought of Conway and what he thought of the matchup.

"From what I found out…what little bit I could find out…they are better than they finished," Leysath said. "Their batting order from one to five is very solid. They have two catchers with cannons for arms and three starting pitchers that throw pretty good.

"(Weatherford) said it ‘ought to be a good matchup,’" he continued. "I don’t see anybody winning it in three games."

Leysath said that Bamberg-Ehrhardt star Don Sandifer, the 2007 T&D Baseball Player of the Year, will get the start on the mound.

"He did good Tuesday night against Summerville," he said. "He went the whole nine innings, struck out 11 and gave up four hits. He gave up three or four runs, but he is as solid as anybody on the mound."

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