Troup American plays way into state
Published 10:53 am Monday, July 2, 2018
By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY
Daily News
THOMASTON – This time, they were able to hang onto the lead.
On the opening weekend of the Dixie Youth Baseball 9-10-year-old district tournament, the Troup American all-stars had a 9-1 lead, but it was Troup National rallying for a 12-11 victory.
On a sweltering Saturday afternoon in Thomaston, those same two teams were back on the field in an elimination game in the district tournament.
Once again it was Troup American surging to a big lead, going up 9-2 in the fourth inning.
Troup National made things interesting, but the day belonged to Troup American, which won 9-6 to advance to the championship game against Thomaston while also securing a spot in the state tournament.
Only the top two teams are moving on to the state tournament, so the loss meant it was the end of the road for Troup National, which won its first two games before dropping its final two.
Even with his team seemingly comfortably ahead, Troup American Charles Mosley coach knew the game was a long way from over.
“That’s what I told them. We’ve got to finish,” Mosley said. “We’ve got to find a way to finish. Because they’re a scrappy team, just like we are.”
Troup National scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to get within three, but Troup American pitcher Demetrius Hardnett threw two scoreless innings to finish it.
Jeremiah Staples started and pitched the first four innings for Troup American before Mosley gave the ball to Hardnett, who goes by the nickname Meat.
“We had to figure out a way to throw strikes and then get it to Meat, and let him do what he does,” Mosley said. “And Jeremiah did a phenomenal job.”
Troup American grabbed the early lead with two runs in the top of the first inning.
After Chase Mosley and Shai McCarroll reached, Jake Perry’s RBI double gave Troup American the lead.
Demetrius Hardnett followed with an RBI groundout to make it a 2-0 game.
The damage could have been worse, but Troup National second baseman Luke Taylor threw a runner out at home for the second out of the inning.
In the bottom of the first, Troup National tied it with two runs.
Chandler Glisson walked with one out, Caden Wood followed with a base hit, and Parker Marchman reached on an error to bring in a run.
With two outs, Gray Hester came through with an RBI single, and it was tied 2-2.
The game wasn’t deadlocked for long, with Troup American pushing four runs across in the top of the second.
Slade Hunt and Jeremiah Dunn led off with back-to-back singles, and Parker Townsend’s bunt hit loaded the bases with no outs.
Jarred Coggin stepped to the plate with a chance to break the tie, and he drove the ball to right field for a three-run triple, and Troup American’s lead was 5-2.
Kaiden Russell’s infield single drove in another run, and Troup American led by four.
Troup National pitcher Mason Calhoun did a nice job of limiting the damage from there and keep it a four-run game.
In the bottom of the second, Troup American’s defense stood tall to keep any runs from scoring.
Luke Vael reached on a one-out single and Brady Willis walked with two outs, but Troup National was kept off the board.
Third baseman Jake Perry and shortstop Chase Mosley both made nice plays on groundballs, and outfielder Parker Townsend made a terrific running catch for the third out.
Troup American got lead-off singles from Demetrius Hardnett and Jeremiah Staples in the top of the third, but Troup National turned a double play to end the inning with no runs scoring.
With one out, second baseman Luke Taylor caught a line drive on a hard-hit ball from Slade Hunt, and he threw to first base for the inning-ending double
Troup National threatened once again in the bottom of the third, with Caden Wood reaching on a base hit, but Troup American outfielder Shai McCarroll threw a runner out at home to save a run and keep it a 6-2 game.
Troup American padded its lead with three runs in the top of the third.
Jeremiah Dunn led off with a single, and Parker Townsend and Jarred Coggin were hit by pitches to load the bases.
Following a pitching change, Kaiden Russell’s sacrifice fly brought in a run, and Edward Facille drove in another run with a groundout.
Coggin scored the inning’s final run on a groundout, and Troup American led 9-2.
Troup National got back into the game with four runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Parker Marchman and Luke Taylor got things started with base hits, and Gray Hester reached on an error, and the bags were full.
Next up was Kaleb Woodson, and his two-run single pushed two runs across, and Troup American’s lead was down to 9-4.
Chase Hansford’s RBI single made it a 9-5 game, and Luke Vael followed with an RBI groundout to cut Troup American’s lead to three.
The rally stalled there, and Troup American finished the inning holding a three-run advantage.
Both teams had chances in the final two innings, but no one else crossed home plate, and Troup American walked away with the 9-6 win.
Troup National pitcher Brody Swanson, who entered the game in the third inning, did a terrific job in relief to keep his team in the game.
Unfortunately for Troup National, it was unable to break through against Demetrius Hardnett, who tossed two scoreless innings to finish it.
Troup National did get back-to-back singles from Luke Taylor and Gray Hester in the bottom of the sixth to bring the tying run to the plate, but Hardnett got a groundout to end the suspense.
TEAM MEMBERS
TROUP NATIONAL
PLAYERS
Mason Calhoun, Chandler Glisson, Caden Wood, Gray Hester, Parker Marchman, Luke Taylor, Kaleb Woodson, Chase Hansford, Brady Willis, Brody Swanson, Luke Vael and Charlie Battle.
COACHES
Chad Marchman (head coach), Rusty Taylor, Rob Vael and Hilton Swanson
TROUP AMERICAN
PLAYERS
Jarred Coggin, Jeremiah Dunn, Edward Facille, Demetrius Hardnett, Slade Hunt, Shai McCarroll, Chase Mosley, Jake Perry, Kaiden Russell, Jeremiah Staples, Parker Townsend and Wesley Williams.
COACHES
Charles Mosley (head coach), Bryan Starling, Ryan Gatens and Roland Harris
