Sixth-inning rally propels
Elks Braves past D-Backs
By Ivan Sanders
STAR CORRESPONDENT
isanders@starhq.com
The D-Backs had taken no prisoners in their previous
Babe Ruth League games, but on Saturday the boys of Papa Johns
had a battle on their hands in the form of the Elks Braves.
In a tight-fisted affair, the Elks Braves pinned
a 5-4 loss on the D-Backs at Elizabethton High School as the
Braves rallied in the top of the sixth for the win.
Papa Johns took the early 1-0 lead in the bottom
of the first as Chad Lewis reached on an error and swiped
second. Nick McNeal plated Lewis with a RBI double to push
the D-Backs out front.
Jonathan Crowley kept the Braves in check through
the first two frames of the contest while his team added another
run in the bottom of the second. Kevin Jessee reached on a
walk and took second on a passed ball.
Jessee advanced to third on a ground out by Jesse
White and scored on a RBI ground out by Travis Bishop. The
Braves were in need of a rally if they had a shot at victory
and they got it.
Ryan Kennedy got the Braves rolling in the top
of the third with a single and a stolen base. Coty Mann reached
on an error and advanced to second on a steal placing runners
at second and third with two outs.
Nat Treadway came up big with a two-run single
to draw the Braves and D-Backs even after two and a half innings
of play.
Rick Garrison's squad wasted little time in responding
to the attack of the Braves by squeaking out another run to
regain the lead.
McNeil came up with another solid double and
advanced to third on a passed ball. Corey Nave picked up a
two-out RBI single to push the D-Backs ahead 3-2.
Tyler Andes banged out a double in the Elks fourth
frame, but Crowley bowed his back and retired the next three
batters to close out the frame and maintain the Papa Johns
edge.
Jesse White helped the D-Backs tack on another
run in the bottom of the fourth after he tripled and came
in to score on an error by the Brave catcher to provide a
little cushion at 4-2.
Travis Hurley's Braves sliced the lead to one
in the fifth after Coty Mann reached on a fielder's choice
and stole second. Treadway came through once again with a
RBI double to pull his team within one at 4-3.
Treadway worked some magic for the Braves in
the bottom of the frame with a little help from his defense.
Michael Hodge singled but was caught stealing on a strong
throw from Andrew Kennedy for the Braves.
Lewis doubled after the out, but Treadway strengthened
to strikeout Josh Hardin and get Ricky Garrison to fly out.
With time drawing close to the limit of two hours, it was
do or die for the Braves.
Andes drew a lead off walk and advanced as teammate
Austin Guinn reached on an error. Derrick Taylor walked to
load the bases and Andes scored on a RBI walk to Derrick Nave
to even the score at 4-4.
With the bases still loaded, Ryan Kennedy was
pegged by Lewis to force Guinn in to give the Braves their
first lead at 5-4.
The Braves now only needed to keep the D-Backs
in check and the win was theirs.
Treadway placed his club on his shoulders as
he struck out a tough batter in Nave and then enticed Crowley
and White into grounding out to third for a huge win over
the undefeated D-backs and stay perfect themselves.
Ryan Kennedy and Treadway notched two hits each
with Andes and Guinn contributing one hit apiece. McNeil picked
up two hits for the D-Backs with Lewis, Nave, White and Hodge
each adding one hit each.
Treadway was penciled in with the win off the
hill for the Braves, while Crowley was the hard luck loser
for Papa Johns.
Lewis Racing Dodgers.......................9
PIC Indians...................................17
The Indians jumped out to a quick 6-0 first inning
advantage and then had to fight for their lives in taking
the 17-9 win over the Dodgers. The Dodgers rallied in the
second to take a 9-6 lead before the Indians took advantage
of a couple of miss-handled balls by the Dodgers to retake
the lead and hold off the pesky Lewis Racing team.
Charles Peters and Jordan Honeycutt paced the
Indians with two hits each with teammates Scott Burleson,
Shannon Buchannon, Randy Swearingen, Robert Davenport and
Chris Richardson picking up one hit each for the winners.
Josh Lewis had a perfect 2-for-2 day with two
RBIs for the Dodgers. Myles Young and Justin Covington contributed
one hit to the Dodgers effort.
Shannon Buchannon notched the win for PIC while
Young suffered the loss. Peters and Swearingen also contributed
mound duty for the Indians. Brandon Medina started on the
hill for the Dodgers with Covington closing out the action.
