DHS Tigers continue hard luck losses

Published 1:38 pm Wednesday, March 16, 2011

MOBILE — Demopolis (3-7) continued its streak of tough luck losses Saturday, falling to Prattville 13-5 and UMS-Wright 6-5.

The Tigers opened the day against Prattville, surrendering a run in each of the first and second innings before breaking through with a three-run top half of the third. Prattville battled back to tie the game in the home half of the frame before hanging four more runs on the board in the fourth. Demopolis gave itself a chance with a run in the fifth inning and another in the sixth.

Down 7-5 with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Tigers kicked their opportunity to win the game when an error on a routine grounder opened the floodgates and allowed the Lions to score six runs in the frame to ice the contest.

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“What gives us hope is, in the last week our kids, their approach to the game, their focus, their attitude toward being down in a game has been different,” Demopolis head coach Ben Ramer said of the signs of promise being shown by his players.

While the loss was tough for the Tigers to stomach, Ramer said his squad will eventually make the most of the opportunities.

“The more times we put ourselves in that situation, we’ve got to learn to win,” Ramer said. “The only way you learn is to be there.”

Alex Sturdivant led the way offensively, going 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI for the Tigers. Kole Thrasher went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Ben Pettus went 2-for-4. Bill Holemon was 1-for-1 with an RBI. Taylor Polk was 1-for-3. Chase Cameron went 1-for-4. Payne Hasty walked and scored while Daniel Sturdivant scored two runs.

Demopolis followed its late inning collapse against Prattville with a heartbreaking loss to host team UMS-Wright.

The Tigers scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 5-2 lead into the game’s final three outs.

In the bottom of the seventh, Demopolis pitcher William Stewart struggled to throw what the home plate umpire deemed a strike as four UMS batters drew walks in the inning.

“It was frustrating for William,” Ramer said. “I know it was.”

UMS capitalized on situation by scoring four runs in the frame to pick up the win.

“In a tough situation, I thought our kids handled themselves very well,” Ramer said. “They really did. If we execute the things we have a chance to execute in the end, then we still have a chance to win the ball game. Those are situations that we want to be in. We don’t make our schedule out every year to have 25-30 wins. We make out our schedule to be in situations.”

Stewart struck out five and allowed only two earned runs taking the loss in the game.

Pettus was 1-for-2 with two walks and a run. Hasty walked and scored a run. Alex Sturdivant went 0-for-2 with two walks and an RBI. Cameron was 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Stewart scored a run. Wesley Anderson went 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. Louis Steudeman went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a two-RBI single in the seventh inning.

The Tigers were scheduled to play Thomasville Tuesday night but had the game called off due to poor field conditions.

“If there is (a positive to not playing Tuesday’s game), it would be to maybe rest a few arms and get our legs under us,” Ramer said. “(The Demopolis players) were disappointed. They are always itching to get a chance to play, especially to play Thomasville.”

Ramer indicated he was attempting to reschedule the game with Thomasville but had yet to have any success with the process.

The Tigers are scheduled to take to the field again Friday when they travel to Wetumpka to face the hosting Indians before taking on Holtville and Stanhope-Elmore Saturday.