Demopolis bounced from first round of playoffs

Published 11:24 pm Friday, April 16, 2010

Demopolis’ playoff life was short-lived and painful as the Tigers were ousted at home in the first round Friday night, losing to Beauregard (30-8) 19-2 in game one and 11-1 in the second contest.

“They were a lot better than us today,” Demopolis head coach Ben Ramer said.

The Tigers (16-16) turned to Chase Cameron in game one. Demopolis’ ace for most of the season, the junior appeared poised to limit the damage early until a pair of errors put runners on. From there, everything went down hill quickly as the Tigers allowed seven runs with two out and trailed 9-0 after the first inning.

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“Coming into today, we knew they were a good team,” Ramer said. “We thought we had a chance to give them some problems with some things. We got down early, something we have struggled with all year. When we get down, we feel like we’re out of it.”

Ramer pulled Cameron in the first inning after the junior scuffled. With Cameron’s pitch count already above 50, Ramer said he chose to save the hurler in the event the Tigers could find a way to force a game three. That opportunity never materialized.

Demopolis gave up four more runs in the second inning and trailed 13-0 before showing any signs of life. Before the Tigers reached base safely, they had already surrendered nine hits in addition to their own miscues.

In the second inning, Cameron Barger made good on his opportunity, stroking a single to left field that plated fellow senior Larry Dunn. Deonte Washington later scored on a passed ball to cut the deficit to 13-2.

Alex Sturdivant, who entered with two outs in the first inning, pitched around a pair of errors in the third to hold Beauregard scoreless for the first time.

“I thought he did an excellent job,” Ramer said of the sophomore reliever, who also singled in the game. “(Beauregard has) faced some good pitchers all year. Alex is a good guy to follow somebody like Chase with because he throws that little soft junk.”

Beauregard went on to score five more runs in the fourth inning and another in the fifth.

Beauregard turned to Troy signee Kyle Brown to handle the pitching duties in the second game. Brown helped his own cause in the first inning, stroking an opposite field home run to give himself a 2-0 lead. While that would prove to be enough, the Hornets were not yet done. Beauregard plated five more runs in the second inning and four in the fourth to stretch the lead to 11-0.

Demopolis started a fifth inning rally when Daniel Sturdivant singled to lead off the inning. He ultimately scored with two outs on a passed ball. Larry Dunn also singled in the inning. The most consistent Tiger hitter in the second game was Jacob Roemen. The junior went 2-for-2 in the contest with a single, a double and a walk.

“Jacob is a good fastball guy,” Ramer said of Roemen. “(Brown) had good velocity, but that was right up Jacob’s alley.”

The loss ended the high school playing careers of Demopolis seniors Barger, Dunn and Hunter Wells.

“This is my third year,” Ramer said. “They were sophomores when I got here. I appreciate their consistency and staying with it through injuries. I appreciate all three of those young men and what they meant to me and what they meant to the program.”