BREWER ? Brewer Falcons second baseman Rick Adams was the catalyst behind Brewer?s 3-1 American Legion victory over Hampden Thursday night.

And he didn?t even get a hit.

Adams hit a pair of sacrifice flies, scored a run and made a potential game-saving defensive play in the sixth inning to spearhead the win.

The game followed the continuation of a suspended game game from July 5 when home plate umpire Brian Currie walked off the field after being heckled by a Brewer fan.

Brewer was leading 12-10 with two outs and a 3-2 count on Tim Kenerson. There was a runner on first.

When the game resumed Thursday, Chris Maguire walked Kenerson before striking out Travis Estes to collect the save.

The two wins improved Brewer?s record to 10-7 and all but sewed up a Zone 1 Tournament berth for the Falcons.

Hampden fell to 5-12 and was eliminated from zone tournament contention.

Hampden assistant coach said Adams “had a [great] night tonight.”

Adams’ defensive gem came in the top of the sixth inning with the bases loaded and two outs. Brewer was leading 2-1.

Brian Perry hit a sharp grounder between first and second. Adams dove as far as he could, snared the ball and threw to first to end the threat.

“When it came off the bat, I didn’t know if I could get to it,” said Adams. “I was hoping for the best.”

“That play turned the game around,” said Hampden left fielder Joel Neill.

Adams gave winning pitcher Greg Higgins an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with a line drive sacrifice fly to center following an Eric White single and two hit batsmen.

“I was just hoping to get the ball to the outfield,” said Adams.

Adams’ sacrifice fly to left in the fourth broke a 1-1 tie.

Matt Jackson ripped an opposite-field double just inside the right-field line and went to third on a passed ball before scoring on Adams’ sacrifice fly.

Jackson said Hampden pitcher Travis Estes had been pitching him outside all game long so he went with the 1-2 fastball and hit it to right.

Adams walked the scored the first Brewer run in the first inning on Mike Kotredes’ triple to right center.

Hampden tied it in the fourth when Neill singled, stole second, went to third on Kenerson’s infield single and scored on Patrick Stephens’ sacrifice fly.

Higgins, who picked up the win in the suspended game, went the distance for another victory. He struck out nine and walked four while scattering five hits.

He walked the bases loaded with one out in the sixth inning before striking out Brennan Perry and getting the great play by Adams.

“My curve ball was working early and it worked throughout the game,” said Higgins, who also featured a live fastball. “And everybody played well behind me.”

He threw 74 strikes among his 125 pitches on the rainy evening.

His mates made a key play in the seventh. Justin Kelsey was hit by a pitch and pinch-hitter Caleb Kirk singled to left center. Kirk tried to go to second but was thrown out when left fielder White threw to shortstop Jackson, who relayed his throw to Adams.

Estes pitched well in defeat. He also gave up five hits while striking out eight, walking four and hitting four batters.

FALCONS 3, RIVERDOGS 1

Hampden (5-12) Brewer (10-7)

Hampden AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Smith, cf 4 0 1 0 Adams, 2b 0 1 2

Harding, 2b 4 0 0 0 Robbins, cf 3 0 0

Neill, lf 2 1 1 0 Kotredes, 3b 2 0 1

Kenerson, 1b 2 0 1 0 Swett, dh 2 0 0

Farley, pr 0 0 0 0 Wadleigh, c 3 0 0

Stephens, c 1 0 0 1 White, lf 2 1 0

Bre. Perry, dh 2 0 0 0 Dedmon, rf 2 0

Bri. Perry, rf 3 0 0 0 Nicknair, 1b 3 0

Kelsey, 3b 2 0 1 0 Jackson, ss 1 1 0

Amoroso, pr 0 0 0 0

Johndro, ss 2 0 0 0

Kirk, ph 1 0 1 0

Totals 23 1 5 1 Totals 18 3 5 3

Hampden 000 100 0 – 1

Brewer 100 101 0 – 3

E- Estes; Kotredes; LOB- Hampden 6, Brewer 8; 2B- Kelsey; Jackson; 3B- Kotredes; S- Robbins; SF- Adams 2; Stephens; SB- Neill; Kotredes 2, White, Dedmon

Hampden IP H R ER BB SO

Estes (L, 1-3) 6 5 3 3 4 8

Home IP H R ER BB SO

Higgins (W, 5-1) 7 5 1 1 4 9

HBP- Kelsey (by Higgins); Jackson 2 (by Estes), Kotredes (by Estes), Dedmon (by Estes); PB- Stephens; T- 2:03; ATT- 75 (est.)