Sox 9U Estes Start as Champs
The Sox 9U team coached by Michael Estes started off the 2020 Spring season with the goal to win on Sundays. Check that goal off the list.
The 9U Sox got off to a rocky start this weekend at The Quarry Classic in Brandon...but Coach Estes reminded his time it's never how you start, it's how you finish. And they finished.
Taking the field early Saturday morning against the NLB MS Yankees served as a wake up call for the Sox as the Yankees scored early and often, scoring a 13-4 victory. Hayes Keith, Jonah Kerr and Peyton McAdory each picked up a hit in the game, all scoring a run along with Easton Biggs who reached on a walk.
Game 2 in Pool Play saw the Sox bats come alive, recording 7 hits to score 10 runs in a 10-6 win over the Cardinals Nationals. Seven players each picked up a hit, with Maddox Clark earning a double and Jonah Kerr legging out an inside the park homer in the top of the first inning for 2 RBI and a 2 run lead. The Sox used three hits - singles from Hayes Keith and Micah Estes and a double from Maddox Clark - to put three runs and stretching their lead to 5-1 in the top of the 2nd. The Cardinals tied the score in the bottom half of the inning, putting up four runs on two hits, using 3 free passes to knot the game at 5-5. But the Sox were on a roll and put the game out of reach in the top of the 3rd, adding 5 more runs on 2 hits from Peyton McAdory and AJ Vance while drawing four walks. The Sox ending Pool Play at 1-1, earning the 6th seed.
Sunday afternoon matched the Sox 9U Estes team against Vicksburg Cannons, with the Sox taking little time in putting this one away. Maddox Clark started the bottom of the 1st with a lead off to second, stealing 2nd and 3rd with AJ Vance at the plate, stealing home on a 1-2 count to score the first run of the game. Vance drew a walk and stole 2nd as Hayes Keith pulled a 4 pitch walk to put two runners on with no outs. Jonah Kerr had the green light on 3-0 and served up a single in the six hole to score two runs. Moving to 2nd on a passed ball, Kerr stole 3rd before scoring on another passed ball with Myles Stanley at the plate who eventually earned another walk. After a couple of quick outs, Peyton McAdory walked to put two runners on with two outs. Stanley grabbed third before stealing home, and McAdory came around to score with Payton Boykin at the plate, drawing another walk. Boykin advanced to 2nd on a passed ball and stole third before scoring on a passed ball with Clark at the plate, padding the lead for the Sox with a 7-0 lead. After the Cannons scored a couple of runs in the top of the 2nd, the Sox put the game away with four more runs in the bottom of the ending, winning by a final of 11-4.
The Championship match up Sunday featured the Sox hosting the Rankin Renegades. Jonah Kerr took the mound for the Sox, giving up one run in the first inning - a lead off walk that scored on a ground ball with one out. A couple of strikeouts ended the threat, stranding a runner at third. Maddox Clark started the scoring with a lead off single, stealing second and moving to third on a ground out by Vance and later scoring on a passed ball with Hayes Keith at bat. Keith drew a walk and scored after moving to 2nd on a passed ball then reaching the plate with an RBI single from Jonah Kerr - who stole 2nd and 3rd and scored on a passed ball before Easton Biggs singled. With a 3-1 lead the Renegades closed the gap with a run in the 2nd. The Sox added three runs in the bottom of the second when Maddox Clark doubled, then scored on a passed ball. The score was 6-2 after two innings.
The Renegades used their half of the 3rd to take a lead. The Sox issued 10 walks and the Renegades added a single and double to take a 10-6 lead. The Sox faced a 4 run deficit as it started its half of the last inning, and delivered. Easton Biggs started with a walk with one out and advanced to third on a passed ball. Micah Estes reached base on a dropped third strike, allowing Biggs to score and shrink the lead to 3. Estes stole 2nd before McAdory flew out short to record the second out of the inning then stole third before scoring on a passed ball. Payton Boykin was hit by a pitch and advanced to 2nd on a passed ball before stealing 3rd. Lawson drew a walk, bringing up Maddox Clark. Boykin stole home to close the score to a one run game, and Clark singled for a game-tying RBI as Lawson scored. Vance drew a walk with two outs, Keith was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After swinging at the first two pitches, Jonah Kerr watched the last four pitches go by out of the zone to earn the championship win with an RBI walk.