It has always been said of baseball if you pitch well, hit well, and defend well you always have the opportunity to win the game.

Conyers American Legion post 77 found this out while rival Rockdale American Legion post 77 saw the opposite end of the spectrum at times in a 9-4 Conyers win at Legion Field on Sunday afternoon.

Sloppy play early and a lack of energy seemed to hinder Rockdale, while Conyers came out looking to move one win up on its rivals in the season series.

Conyers pitcher Brandon Thomas threw a solid game, while its bats started things off in the bottom of the first inning.

After a three-up-and-three-down top half, Conyers got on the board with a RBI triple from Josh Bailey in the first. Travis Tarleton kept things going with a RBI double to bring in Bailey.

Rockdale responded in the second inning when Cameron Lewis reached first on an error by the second basemen. The next batter, Kyle Beech drew a walk to put runners on first and second with two outs and C.J. McDowell broke through for Rockdale with a RBI single. Beech then came into score after an attempt to pick off McDowell at first base went astray.

Conyers, however, answered in the bottom of the second, starting with a leadoff walk for Ross Roberts followed by a steal. David Lockwood then drove in Roberts on a single. Lockwood advanced to second on a sacrifice fly by Levi Bonilla, and scored on a double by Beau Thomas.

Thomas came home on Bailey's second RBI of the day to make the score 4-2.

Rockdale and Conyers each added another run in the fourth inning, starting with Rockdale.

Rockdale's Patrich Long was walked by Dacota Cole, but was caught stealing second. However, Beech still put Rockdale on the board with an RBI single.

Conyers responded when Lockwood scored on a wild pitch.

Conyers further distanced themselves from Rockdale on a home run by Roberts.

Conyers pitching shut down Rockdale in the seventh and eighth forcing it to three-up-and-three-down situations in both innings.

"Our pitchers threw well and we hit the ball," Conyers Coach Eddie Bagwell said.

Conyers added to its lead with a RBI double from Bailey in the seventh and a sacrifice fly from Nick Woodward in the eighth. Rockdale added a run on a RBI single from Cole but it would not be enough.

Conyers Coach Eddie Bagwell was pleased with his team's performance.

"We came up with some timely hitting," Bagwell said. "(And) [Kelvin] Diaz (came) in to close the game for us, and after the first couple of innings settling in."

The two teams will meet again Wednesday for a double-header before a long break for vacation.