By MONTE DUTTON

It was hot.

Before the Clinton Post 56 Junior American Legion baseball game on Wednesday – I was standing next to the table at the gate, watching Sean McCarthy take admission – it was possible, if I stood completely still, not to perspire.

If, however, I wiggled the pinky on my left hand, sweat started. Provided a cell phone can be trusted, shadows were falling across the diamond, and it was still 93.

Did I mention it was hot?

Mammals were cloistered in the woods. Fowl were perched on the branches. Gnats and mosquitoes were playful, though. There was that.

I have little use for drafts and recruiting. This is because there are no such things as bad draft picks and recruits. Many are the picks who become bombs, busts and cripples, but all picks and signees are brilliant.

A Clemson “commit” from the high-school class of 2025 “decommitted” when the Tigers signed a bright potential quarterback from the Class of ’24.

Among the definitions of “commitment” are:

A pledge or promise; obligation; dedication; allegiance.

I doubt any high-school junior has any business committing or decommitting. The decommitment was unthinkable until recently.

Fans like to read about recruiting and draft picks. It’s obvious. If I still worked for anyone else, I’m sure I’d have to cover it more than the bare minimum that is my practice. I work for myself, so I can write what I want.

I’m more interested in what happens when they arrive.

If they arrive …

Young athletes shop till they drop. Some will sign up for the transfer protocol before they play a game at their final choice. It really lacks finality.

Wednesday was a rip-roaring night of American Legion baseball. That I like.

Early in Clinton Junior Legion’s 6-5 victory over Saluda, it looked as if the Devils were wilting in the heat.

Saluda scored three runs, all unearned, in the first inning.

To quote Lee Corso, “Not so fast.”

Clinton (6-2) stormed back with five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, which was a thing of beauty in a game that began in sweat-stained ugliness.

In the first inning, designated hitter Tristan Daniels doubled in two runs and another scored on a wild pitch. Three walks and an error embellished the inning. The entire rally occurred after two were out.

When the fateful fifth began, Saluda (8-3) led, 4-1.

As in the Saluda first, Clinton’s first two batters were retired. Then losing pitcher Ed Dominquez hit Clinton’s Jaydon Glenn. First baseman Luke Young reached on an error. Owen Glenn’s single drove in his cousin. He and Young scored on Angel Vargas’s single, tying the score. Winning pitcher Zach Lawson singled to center, and Vargas scored on an error by the Saluda catcher.

Rhett Gilliam walked, as did Lawson and J.J. Dickson. Reliever Drew Arant struck out Avery Barnes to end the frame.

Saluda got a run back in the sixth inning, but Vargas, who earned a save, induced an inning-ending double play from Daniels.

Owen Glenn went 2/3 with a run and two driven in. All five Clinton hits were singles.

While batting, Saluda had eight hits. While fielding, Saluda committed six errors.

The teams play again in Saluda on Thursday night at 7 in the regular-season finale. The Devils are riding a four-game winning streak.

Left fielder Jack Coletti went 3/3, leading Chapin-Newberry Post 193/24 to a 4-1 decision over Golden Strip Post 271 at Newberry College.

Four Laurens position players and two pitchers were in the Golden Strip lineup. Only Owen Pridgen hit safely, but the Simpsonville-based team only totaled four hits off winning pitcher Jacob Clark, who went the distance.

Lefty Jordan Hudson took the loss for Golden Strip, and Joshua Hughes started and pitched two scoreless innings.

Chapin-Newberry (8-5) visits Golden Strip (5-3) again at Hillcrest High School on Friday at 7 p.m.

Center fielder Jaedon Goodwin doubled and scored two runs in Greenwood Post 20’s 3-2 victory over Easley Post 52 at Legion Stadium on Wednesday night.

Laurens’ Goodwin and Jackson Martin, in right field, were 1/2 and 1/3, respectively.

Brayden Shealy pitched a complete game, allowing three hits, two runs and three walks for Greenwood (5-5), striking out eight.

The teams play again on Friday night at 7 in Easley.

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