West Alabama wins first in best of five
Published 12:00 am Saturday, July 7, 2007
DEMOPOLIS &8212; A weather delay of Thursday&8217;s game provided the break that West Alabama Babe Ruth all-stars needed to get their bats in order for their best out of five series with Central Alabama.
After recording only one hit during the first two innings of Thursday&8217;s game, the group came out with renewed vigor yesterday and expanded on their, 2-1, lead from the first two innings played and ended the game early, 12-1, in the bottom of the sixth.
Picking up where the two groups left off after inclement weather, West Alabama came to bat in the top of the third inning. Trevor Johnson lead off with a single that fell between the right and center fielders, and he made it to third off a steal and a ground out to shortstop by the second batter.
After a pop out to the catcher, Roshan Hira brought in Johnson off a single. Chase Smyly followed with a single as well that sent Hira to third, but a ground out ended the inning, 3-1.
Walker Lewis got on with a single and Brandon Meeks got on off a base off balls for Central Alabama in the bottom of the inning, but the team couldn&8217;t capitalize.
West Alabama returned to bat and wrung the momentum for all it was worth, stacking on five runs in the top if the fourth. Tyler Howe ton lead off with a single, and a following single from Russ Seale sent him to third. A double from Deonte Washington brought in Howerton and sent Seale to third.
Both base runners were brought during the next at bat when Johnson got to third off an error. Christopher Sammons hit a single, which brought in Johnson, before getting out off a fielder&8217;s choice at second from a Rabe Hale double. Hale stole third and made it home after a throw-out situation at third turned into an error, before the inning ended, 8-1.
Central Alabama went three up, three down in the bottom of the inning, which once again brought up West Alabama.
Ben Pettus was walked to open the inning, but got out off a fielder&8217;s choice that resulted in a single for Howerton. Seale hit a double, which brought in Howerton, and was subsequently brought in off a Washington single. Washington was left on base after a pop out and a ground out ended the inning, 10-1.
Central Alabama again got two runners on base and left them stranded in the bottom of the fifth, when Jamey Clement and Lewis were walked.
In the top of the sixth, Hale led of with a single and was sent to third off a Hira single. A single from Smyly brought in Hale and sent Hira to second, and the following single from Ben Pettus loaded the bases. Following a strikeout, Seale ground out but advanced runners and scored Hira. The next batter struck out, giving West Alabama a 12-1 lead.
Any thought of a comeback in the bottom of the inning was quickly squashed when three Central Alabama Batter struck out consecutively.