The Selma Times-Journal

Prattville entered Monday night’s Dixie Boys District IV tournament aspiring to repeat as district champions.

George Rowe, John Pomeroy and the rest of Selma’s team quickly crushed those hopes.

Rowe had two RBI on a double and solo homerun, and Pomeroy struck out 12 over 5.2 innings as Selma defeated Prattville 5-2.

Though the tournament is only for sub-state seeding, Selma took the game seriously.

Selma jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on two Prattville errors.

A bobble by Prattville shortstop Jacob Gilmore put Kevin Simmons and Jabrail Hayes on first and second base. A balk by Prattville pitcher, Bradley Williams, scored Simmons, and Hayes scored a Rowe ground ball that was again bobbled by Gilmore.

Prattville cut the lead to 2-1 in the second inning. Jake Mollus walked and advanced to second on a passed ball. Bradley Williams hit a pop fly toward the RF line that went off the glove of Selma second baseman, Craig Price, and scored Mollus.

The game remained close for two more innings before Selma opened it up.

Antauris Smith hit a double over the outstretched glove of Prattville right-fielder Bobby Boyd, and scored, on a Rowe ground-rule double.

Prattville’s charitable efforts extended Selma’s lead to 4-1 when Prattville first baseman, James Holloman, missed a ground ball hit by Sherrone Lindsey. Rowe scored on the play.

Rowe wasn’t done yet though. With two out in the sixth inning, he crushed a solo home run over the centerfield fence, extending Selma’s lead to 5-1.

Prattville’s board operators called it a homerun the moment it left the bat. Rowe was a little doubtful.

Selma pitcher John Pomeroy lost a little control in the sixth as he hit Prattville second-baseman, Devin Thompson. Thompson would steal second and third, then advance home on a wild pitch to cut the lead to 5-2.