SBG Sox Weekend Round Up - October 5th
SBG Sox Youth Teams were in action, taking the field in the comfortable weather of the first weekend of October...
SBG Sox 14U Brown, coached by former Belhaven catcher Jason Brown, remained a perfect 9-0 on the Fall season coming away with the Grand Slam Beating Breast Cancer Championship at Freedom Ridge Park in Ridgeland. 14U Brown took the #1 seed in pool play decisively, defeating the Simpson County Cardinals 12-3, then dispatching the Mizuno Golden Spikes in a 3 inning, 15-0 run rule game. Tyler Hester, Jackson Estes and Sam Tumminnelo teamed up to pitch the no-hitter - striking out 8 batters and only allowing 2 base runners in the game. A rematch with the Cardinals produced a much better game. Sox scored in the bottom of the 1st inning, giving up the lead for the first time over the weekend with 2 runs plated by the Cardinals in the top of the 2nd inning. Both teams kept the score there until the bottom of the 6th, when the Sox scored 2 runs to win the game with a bases loaded walk to Veshone Malone with one out. Jed Welch pitched 5 innings in the game allowing only 2 hits and no runs. He recorded 2 strikeouts and issued one walk with 51 pitches. The semi-final game against the Tri County Elite produced another one-run game, with the Sox taking a commanding 3-0 lead through four innings only to see it disappear at the top of the 6th. The Sox scored in the bottom of the inning, with J McQueen scoring on a bases loaded no-out wild pitch to send the Sox into the championship. Facing the LA Knights - Robertson for the trophy, the Sox 14U Brown held the LA Knights scoreless in the first 3 innings while putting up four runs on the board. The game was opened up in the bottom of third, when Cameron Keyes stepped to the plate with bases loaded and two out - delivering a 3-run triple with a line drive to right on a 2-2 pitch. The Knights attempted a comeback with 2 runs in the top of the 4th, but it was too little as the SBG Sox 14U Brown won the championship 4-2.
Over in Hammond LA the SBG Sox 14U Copeland team, coached by former USM pitcher and MLB pitcher was competing in the OTC 4 Bag Swag 14U Open tournament. They earned the #3 seed with wins over the MS Prospects from Picayune 12-2 and the NOLA Cavs 9-6. The Sox combined 7 hits with 9 walks to score 12 runs. Eli Wheat scored 3 runs in the game with Gage Thompson hitting a homer and Jack Miller adding two hits. Miller and Wheat teamed up on the mound, throwing 2 innings each with Wheat recording 4 strikeouts. In the win over the Cavs, the Sox started hot with 7 runs on the board in the 1st inning. A six hit attack, including doubles from Brock Sheppard, Mason Ruble and Gage Thompson all contributed RBIs in the inning. Caden Cochran tossed 2 innings, striking out three and giving up a run to lead the Sox to the win.
A 5-1 victory over the LA Nationals on Sunday morning set up a showdown with the #2 seeded Coastal Baseball from Baldwin county, Alabama. Coastal took an early lead in the game with a first inning run, and held on to the 4th before the Sox tied the game. Hayden Brown led off the inning with a base hit and scored on an RBI fly ball from Mason Ruble. They took the lead in the 5th. Caden Cochran reached base on a single and scored when Gavin Thurman hit a ground ball to short and reached on an error to give the Sox a 2-1 lead. The Sox added two runs in the 6th to shut down game and move on to the Championship. Mason Ruble drew a bases loaded walk in the 6th, and Tyner Flynt belted a base hit to right field to put the last two runs on the board, winning 4-1.
Putting up another 5 runs proved enough for the Sox as they defeated the #1 seed and won the Championship with a final score of 5-3. The Sox scored four of their five runs in the first two innings. Brock Sheppard scored in the 1st on a wild pitch after reaching with a double, and the Sox used three hits each from Tyner Flynt, Jack Miller and Hayden Brown to put up three more in the second inning. The LA Kings used the 2nd and 3rd inning to mount a comeback, ending the 4-3. SBG Sox 14U Copeland added an insurance run in the 5th as Jack Miller earned an RBI, scoring Eli Wheat who had reached with a double to left field. 14U Copeland are now 6-1-1 in the Fall.
SBG Sox 10U Smith, coached by former USM standout Adam Smith, played in the Grand Slam Beating Breast Cancer tournament in Flowood, coming away with the Championship. They were 2-0 in pool play, defeating the FBA Select from Florence 11-8 and the MS Legends from Flora 18-10. In pool play, Ansen McMillan and Brayden Hill each hit 4-5, combining for 8 hits, 5 runs and 5 RBI. Camden Smith and Jackson Page each hit a triple and every player scored in the two games. Earning a bye with the #2 seed, the Sox drew the MS Legends again with the same result, winning 13-1 to go to the Championship. They scored 4 in the 1st and 9 in the 3rd to post the victory. Ansen McMillan led the way, 2-2 at the plate with a two triples, 2 runs and 3 RBI.
The Championship game featured the Sox 9U Adams taking on the #5 seed Canes Gold from Brandon. After both teams put a run on the board in the 1st, the Sox never let off the gas with runs scored in all innings. In the 1st, Camden Smith led off with a single and scored on an RBI hit Brayden Hill; in the 2nd Caleb English drew a one-out walk and stole home; and in the 3rd the Sox used four consecutive walks to pick up a run, then Ansen McMillan earned an RBI with a single and Daniel Fields hit a 2-out double to left field to pick up two more RBI. The Canes pulled closer in the top of the 3 runs to get within 6-4 but that's as close as they would get. The Sox added four more runs in the 4th to end the game, with Camden Smith adding a double and RBI, and Ansen McMillan added two more RBI with a base hit past the third baseman. The SBG Sox 10U Adams won with a final of 10-4.
The SBG Sox 11U Mattison, coached by the legendary Drew Mattison, kept up their winning ways, moving to 8-4 on the season with a runner up finish in the GSSA October Slugfest in Oak Grove. The Sox dispatched the Oak Grove Gold and the Mississippi Strikers by a combined score of 24-6 to stay undefeated in pool play. Cooper Miller hit a home run against the Strikers, his 2nd of the season, and Cass Reid led a combined 12 hit attack with 3 hits in 4 at bats. Miller added 2 innings on the mound, striking out 4 batters and Bentley Hatten also pitched 2 innings, with no base runners allowed while on the mound.
Putting up five runs in the 1st, the Sox took the semi-final game easily over Mayhem Baseball. They started the game with four straight base hits from Noah Dubois, Cass Reid, Braxton Sandifer and Cooper Miller. Dubois and Reid scored on a passed ball to open the scoring and Isaac Earls earned an RBI before Riggs Russell and Caden West picked up RBIs by drawing bases loaded walks, taking a 5-0 lead into the bottom of the 1st. Mayhem plated two runs in their half of the 1st, but Chris Poole answered that score with a home run to left field. The Sox put it away for good in the 4th, adding 8 runs to put it out of reach. Chris Poole added an RBI in the inning, and Mayhem fell apart allowing the other seven runs to score by committing 4 errors and walking four batters. Cass Reid finished up the game on the mound to win by a final score of 14-2 and putting the Sox in the Championship.
The Championship was a rematch with the Sox and Strikers. The Sox defeated the Strikers 12-1 in pool play. The Strikers scored first in the 2nd inning, with a runner scoring on a wild pitch with 2 outs. They added a run in the 3rd, taking a 2-0 lead into the 5th inning. The Sox started the inning with a walk, and Kipten Reid delivered a 2-out RBI with a base hit to left field, scoring Braxton Sandifer who had walked. A pop up ended the inning and the SBG Sox 11U Mattison rally, falling in the Championship game 2-1.
The SBG Sox 8U Wagner team, coached by former USM catcher Brain Wagner, took the field for the first time this Fall and played in the final game of the tournament. After dropping their first game of the season to the Surge 16-10, they followed it up with a win over the Bulls 7U with a final of 15-14. In pool play, Case Powell, Jack Alexander and Jett Heldt were perfect at the plate, combing for 13 hits, 5 runs and 6 RBI. Anderson Pittman added 4 runs and 3 RBI on a 5-6 performance at the plate.
The Sox matched up with the Bulls 7U team in the semi-final game, taking it 18-16 for their second win of the season. The Sox put up a pair of 7's in the first two innings, with 10 hits in the 1st inning. Anderson Pittman, Jack Alexander, Cole Waters and Carey Norris all doubled in the inning, producing 4 RBI to take the 7-0 lead. In the 2nd, the Sox used the long ball to add their lead, with Anderson Pittman leading off with a shot to center field, and Cole Waters adding an inside-the-parker. Les Duhon added a triple, with Colton Johnston and Jett Heldt contributing doubles to round out another 7 run inning. The Sox used 26 hits in the game to win it with a final score of 18-16.
The Championship game featured a rematch with Surge Baseball. The Surge jumped out early, scoring seven runs in the 1st and put the Sox in catch up mode - scoring a run in the bottom of the 1st when Jack Alexander picked up an RBI single, scoring Anderson Pittman who had led off the inning with a base hit. The Surge added twelve more runs in the next two innings, and the Sox finished the game with a run scored in the bottom of the 3rd, with Corbin Scott leading off with a base hit and Jett Heldt bringing him home with an RBI single.
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Notes: 14U- Brock Sheppard batted 6-9 (.667) with 2 doubles, 4 Runs and and 2 RBI...Tyler Flynt pitched 7 innings, allowing a run and striking out six...Gage Thompson hit his first home run of the season
13U - Houston Williams was 10-14 (.714) with 2 triples, 6 Runs and 9 RBI. He also pitched 2.2 innings, allowing no hits, one run and striking out eight batters...Hayden Hunt hit his first homer of the season.
12U- Thomas Antwine was 5-6 (.833) at the plate, with 2 Runs and 2 RBI...Isaiah McClenty batted 3-6 (.500) with 2 RBI. He pitched 3 innings, striking our four batters.
11U- Chris Poole hit 5-7 (.714) with a Home Run (his 2nd), four Runs and 3 RBI. He pitched 2 innings with four strike outs...Cooper Miller hit his 2nd home run of the season.
10U - Ansen McMillan hit 8-9 (.889) with 2 triples, 7 Runs and 7 RBI. He pitched 4 Innings with 7 strikeouts and 4 earned runs...Brayden Hill had 8 hits (8-11, .875) with 4 Runs and 4 RBI.
8U- Anderson Pittman had 9 hits (9-10, .900) with 2 doubles and a homer...Jett Heldt hit 8-9 (.889) with a double, 4 Runs and 4 RBI.
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