South Stars Fall Short Against East

On an overcast morning, following opening ceremonies, South Stars faced the East Stars. East is a team comprised of many of the players from Pasco, who won the 2007 Jr. Dixie Boys World Series.

South Stars started at the plate as the visiting team. Brad Middleton from Marianna, Georgia battled but was sent back to the dugout by East’s opening pitcher Tyler Smith. After two strikes, one looking and one swinging, Justin Morgan from Okeechobee, Florida ripped a line drive between first and second for a single. Mark Weir followed suit, after gaining a feel for the pitching and a count of two balls and two strikes. His double through the left side of the field advanced Justin Morgan to third. Unfortunately, that is where they would stay with Smith retiring Jordan Scott, from Bear Creek Ridge, Alabama and Noah Wilcox from Okeechobee with strikeouts.

East came to the plate facing left-hander, Timmy Farrell, from Okeechobee, Florida. After acquiring a count of three balls and one strike, Maleeke Gibson made slight contact with the ball sending it back to Farrell at the mound who made the easy toss to Jordan Scott on first for out number one. East’s two and three hole batters, Jeremy Buckner and Will Price both grounded out to short where Mark Weir made the accurate throws to first for outs two and three. Inning one ended runless for both teams.

In the second inning, Smith came to the mound with one thing on his mind – three up and three down. To the dismay of the South Stars that is exactly the way it would play out with him striking out three in a row: Will Jackson, Thor Harden and Brad Coleman.

East opened the second inning with a single through the right side. However, that was all South’s defense was willing to give up. Blake Graham grounded out to third. Shortstop Mark Weir robbed Tyler Smith of a well hit ball and Jackson Oliver flew out to Bradley Coleman at third. Inning number two also showed no runs for either team.

South Stars came to the plate hoping to finally get some runs on the board, but the East boys were destined to not let that happen. Timmy Farrell hit a grounder that was fielded by East’s second baseman for out number one. Brad Middleton hit a grounder up the middle that enabled the pitcher to work for the second out. Justin Morgan hit another shot through the right side for a single but was left on base when Mark Weir worked Smith to a full count and was tagged out with a dropped third strike.

Timmy Farrell came to the mound with his strongest inning in the third. East’s first batter Browan Brazwell fell victim to Farrell’s curve ball and went down looking. Austin Fuller flew out to Will Jackson in left field on the second pitch. Back at the top of the order, Maleeke Gibson watched two strikes fly by before swinging and missing the third. Three up and three down for South in the third kept the game at zero all.

In the fourth inning, East brought Robert Daniel to the mound, who sent three consecutive batters from South Stars away with K’s. Jordan Scott, Noah Wilcox and Will Jackson all succumbed to Daniel.

South Stars also had a pitching change and moved Mark Weir onto the mound. Jace Johnson fired off a shot to first base that was fielded by Jordan Scott for the unassisted out. Will Price worked Weir, fouling off several but eventually fell under Weir’s fury of pitches.
(More to come … I have to leave for game 2 … be sure to check back for final results.)