MONTGOMERY– The Selma Cloverleafs avoided a Montgomery Wings sweep on Sunday, thanks largely to solid pitching and some huge offensive plays.

Selma native Terry Waters got the win for the day, which is his first in professional baseball. In yesterday’s game, his second start for the season, Waters seemed to be more comfortable on the mound, hurling some venomous pitches towards the plate.

“The win feels good,” said Waters. “We needed a big win here. With my pitching, I’m feeling more in shape, but the team played real good today.”

Waters was right about good play on the part of the Cloverleafs–the Selma team played a game that was error-free. The only moment that caused Selma fans to hold their breath was in the bottom of the ninth inning, when Montgomery’s Kenny Craddox hit a home run over the right field fence off of Leafs closer Jim Brantley. The homer, which came with only one out remaining in the game, raised the score from 6-2 to the final 6-4.

But the Cloverleafs made their presence known at the plate, as well. At left fielder and cleanup hitter Joe Whitmer’s first full at-bat, he blasted a long ball over the left field fence to give the Leafs a 1-0 lead. Wings pitcher Ryan Brown didn’t have any better luck in the top of the sixth, when Jose Colon bounced one off the scoreboard, providing another big play for the visiting team. Other Selma players stood out at the plate, as well. Third baseman Keith Sills added a couple of solid singles to the Leafs hit count, while shortstop Andrew Tarver slapped a standing double down the third base line, driving in catcher Brock Lowell for an RBI. Teammate Davey Thomas sent a line-hugger down the first base line for a standing double in the top of the sixth.

The Cloverleafs got their win coming off of a trying road trip–they trekked to Baton Rouge last week for a series with the River Bats. Now, they take today to rest before heading to Ozark to take on the Patriots on Tuesday.

“We played a good game,” said Merritt Bowden, Leafs manager. “The key today was that we played together. Everybody on the team seems to be learning their part, and that’s helping things go smoother.”