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By Ian Richardson for the Mail Tribune August 15. 2015 6:40PM Still perfect Medford's Eric Carlson celebrates a run against Hawaii at Keeter Stadium during the American Legion World Series on Saturday in Shelby, N.C. PHOTO BY CLAY LOMNETH SHELBY, N.C. — If you were to ask Medford head coach Nate Mayben if he thought his team could win its opening three games and earn a semifinal spot with just eight total runs prior to the start of the American Legion World Series, his answer might have surprised you. “Our pitching has been phenomenal all year,” Mayben said. “We’ve made our name with pitching and playing great defense. Honestly, if you told me we’d only have eight runs at this point, I would have still thought we’d have a good chance because I’m always confident in us allowing less.” And that’s exactly how the first three days of the tournament have played out for the Northwest Regional champions. The Mustangs’ defense has shined on its way to three one-run victories, the latest a 2-1, walk-off win over Waipahu, Hawaii, on Saturday afternoon at Keeter Stadium. The triumph clinched the No. 1 seed in the Stars Division and a semifinal date Monday against the No. 2 team from the four-team Stripes Division. The semifinal contest can be seen on ESPNU at 1 p.m. PDT Monday. Waipahu (31-2) immediately jumped out in front with a run in the top of the first inning, but Medford (45-13) shut the Hawaiian champions down from there before finally tying the game in the seventh, setting up the walk-off. “It’s a sign of maturity,” Mayben said of his team’s three tight wins. “Twelve of our 14 guys are in college. They’ve been there in high school state championships and other stuff, so nothing gets too big for them.” The Mustangs got solid work from three pitchers on the afternoon with Micah Brown recording the win. Brown, who made a highlight-reel diving catch at shortstop to keep the deficit at one when Waipahu loaded the bases in the sixth, retired all five batters he faced over the final 1 2/3 innings, striking out two. Starter Colton Westfall went 6 1/3 innings, allowing the lone run on five hits while striking out nine. Middle reliever Aaron Hutchinson gave up two hits in an inning of work. Medford leveled the score at 1 in the bottom of the seventh when Cole Carder delivered a two-out RBI single that plated Eric Carlson. The winning run came after Medford loaded the bases with one out in the ninth. Jared Evans’ ground ball to short triggered the start of a double play, but Evans’ speed down the line forced a high throw to first as Steen Fredrickson crossed home. Evans and Carder recorded two hits apiece for Medford, which rapped out eight total. Keka Rios provided two hits and the lone RBI for Waipahu as Dylan Sugimoto also had two base knocks. Starting pitcher Tanner Atiburcio was pinned with the loss, going 8 2/3 innings. Medford — which is off today — will now turn its attention to Monday’s semifinal contest against an opponent to be decided after the completion of pool play today. Waipahu returns to action today against two-time defending champ Brooklawn, New Jersey. Waipahu;100;000;000;—;1;7;1 Medford;000;000;101;—;2;8;1 Atiburcio and Rios; Westfall, Hutchinson (7), Brown (8) and Zavala. W — Brown. L — Atiburcio. 2B — W: Rios; M — Evans. Medford 2, Hawaii 1RECAP: Steen Fredrickson scores the winning run after a Jared Evans fielder’s choice in the bottom of the ninth inning and Micah Brown records the victory on the mound as the Mustangs improve to 3-0 at the American Legion World Series. The triumph clinched the No. 1 seed in the Stars Division and a semifinal date Monday against the No. 2 team from the four-team Stripes Division.UP NEXT: Monday, 1 p.m. PDT, Medford vs. TBA.WHERE TO WATCH: ESPNU and www.legion.org/uploads/baseball/alws2015/ http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20150815/SPORTS/150819712 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->