Rallying to a win
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, April 11, 2006
The Selma Times-Journal
A complete prep baseball game is comprised of seven innings. Meadowview Christian played behind for six and a half of them on Tuesday afternoon before banging out a six-run rally for an 8-7 victory over the 13-13 Wilcox Academy Wildcats.
Trailing by a quintet of runs heading into the final inning of play, Meadowview laced six hits, accompanied by a trio of Wilcox errors to fuel the win.
Austin Dennis led off the rally by reaching on an error, Landon Mehan singled to move Dennis over. Jason Howell reached on a fielder’s choice when Wilcox tried to turn two, but only got the out at second. The play pushed Dennis across the dish for the first run of the inning.
Will Smith reached and then Brett Collins lifted a single to push a run across and cut the lead to three runs, 7-4.
Blake Smith laced a double into the outfield to push a run across and bring the game to within two runs, 7-5.
Dustin Lee checked back into the game after having to leave in the top half of the inning after hearing a pop in his elbow.
Lee stepped in and roped a single to push another run across, cutting the Wildcat lead to one run, 7-6.
Derek Lassiter followed suit after reaching on an error to put runners on first and third. Richard Long loaded the bases after reaching on an error, the third of the inning.
With bases juiced and the outfield playing shallow, Dennis made his second appearance of the inning. In this appearance, he roped a true single over the left fielder, pushing the game-winning run across the dish for the 8-7 victory.
After handing the Wildcats four runs to open the game, the Trojans got a surprising performance from senior hurler Lee.
Lee, in past appearances has ranged from throwing a handful of pitches to throwing for no more than two innings.
On Tuesday, however, the senior went six innings.
The Trojans cut the lead to two runs, 4-2 in the bottom half of the third inning, only to see the Wildcat lead swell to four runs, 6-2 and then five runs in the top of the seventh inning, 7-2.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Trojans rallied for six unanswered runs to pick up the 8-7 victory.
The win pushed the Trojans to 7-7 on the season, the closest they’ve been to having a winning record since their first two games of the season.
Meadowview is on the road Tuesday against Evangel. Both teams are 3-0 in the region and this will be the first of two meetings between the two schools.
Wilcox Academy will be back in Camden on Thursday against regional opponent, Marengo Academy.
The Lady Trojans were also victorious, posting a commanding 12-0 victory over the Lady Wildcats.
Carol Ann McIntyre finished the day 3-4, Elyse McIntyre ripped a triple and tossed a two-hitter in the five-inning win and Bailey Smith lifted a double.
Earlier in the week, the Lady Trojans fought to stay alive in the region with a 12-2 victory over Taylor Road. A win on Tuesday against Evangel will push the Lady Trojans to 2-2 in the region, with only a handful of regional games left.