TURNER – There certainly were a few tense moments, but the Andy Valley American Legion baseball team survived and will play on in the Zone III playoffs.

Brandon Smith pitched his heart out, but a high-percentage decision turned out correct as Jamie Brewer recorded a save by inducing a game-ending double play as Andy Valley held on for a 4-2 win over Smith-Tobey at Leavitt Area High School.

No. 4 Andy Valley scored three runs in the second inning, including an RBI-single from Derek Gilbert that scored Smith with the eventual winning run. The defense was led by shortstop Mike Chamard, who saved two runs with superb catches and also started the twin killing on the final play of the game.

“Mike Chamard is an outstanding player,” Andy Valley coach Jeff Gilbert said. “We’re a good defensive team and you need both defense and pitching in a game like this. I figured it would be good to get at least three good innings from Brandon, but he talked me in to staying in longer. He wanted to finish the game, but Jamie was ready.”

Andy Valley (12-10) will play top-seeded Locke Mills in Bethel in a semi-final game at noon today. The AV club had won the season-opener against Locke Mills, but lost a doubleheader three weeks ago in Bethel.

Andy Valley sent nine batters to the plate in the second and utilized some conservative base running. A double by Scott Wetherall scored Tony Pirrucello, but then things got even more interesting. Brandon Elie singled and Smith reached safely, when a third strike rolled to the backstop. Andy Hinkley was hit by a pitch by Smith-Tobey pitcher Pierce Wiegman and one out later, Gilbert singled Smith home.

“We wanted to run station to station in this game,” Gilbert said. “I am concerned about our lack of some big hits. But, I don’t like to bunt because I like to see the kids swing away.”

Jake McAllister had two singles for Andy Valley and Chamard scored on a wild pitch in the fifth.

Smith-Tobey had scored two runs in the second on John Tefft’ two-run double. The Bath-based club was threatening, but Chamard made an over-the-shoulder catch on a Chris Kates blooper.

“We didn’t get and clutch hits,” Smith-Tobey coach Walt Foster said. “We did have a couple runners thrown out, but Smith pitched a good game. I thought (Wiegman) threw well for not having thrown much this year. We underachieved all season.”

Smith, a southpaw, had five strikeouts and stranded six baserunners.

He was lifted after allowing a Dylan Ouellette single and a walk in the seventh inning. Brewer came in and pitched to one batter.