6-Sigma, C.C. Bank make presence felt

By Marvin Birchfield
STAR CORRESPONDENT

   The high-tech 6-Sigma Automation down-loaded a victory over Burgie Drug by the final of 11-4 in National Little League action on Tuesday night at T.J. Burleson Field.
   "We're a first-year team, and I'm really proud of where we're at. We have been having a good time so far," said 6 Sigma Automation coach Tim Hardin.
   Burgie acquired a three-run lead in the top of the first, attempting to build onto its first win of the season from last week.
   Zack Miller scored the first run when he forced the catcher to make a throw to third base, which gave him the opportunity to steal home.
   The next two runs came off of walks, which scored Matt Febuary and Luke Martinez, causing Sigma to make a pitching change with Matt Cannon coming to the mound.
   Sigma came back in the bottom of the frame with the hard-drive to score five runs and grab the lead 5-3.
   It look as if Burgie might be able to escape the inning unblemished, but an out at third that was over-ruled and called safe by the umpire at the plate turned out to be fatal to the team's chances.
   An error by the shortstop followed, and a triple to right-field from Daniel Simerly drove in Brandon Woodby, Cannon and William Wagner.
   "In the first inning we had an error by our shortstop, and a call reversed at third that got us, but other than that we played good except for maybe the last inning," said Burgie Drug coach Adam Copeland.
   Then a throw from the outfield that went past the catcher, allowing Simerly to cross the plate.
   The last run of the inning came when Logan Loving made it home on a wild-pitch.
   Burgie was able to draw within one in the second, when a single to right from Miller brought in Jordan Vanhoy.
   "I think if we can hit the ball a little better then we will improve, but we're starting to come along and getting there," said Copeland.
   Sigma was able to push their lead back to two in the fourth, after an error by the second baseman allowed Korey Hardin to score.
   In the final frame, Sigma exploded in making five runs off of five hits.
   The first run came off of a bunt from Woodby to score Wendell Loving, and a triple to right field from Eric Norman drove in the last two runs, scoring Simerly and Logan Loving.
   "We came on strong late and hit the ball and did what we were suppose to do," said Hardin.
   Carter County Bank 14
   Cash Express 1
   Carter County Bank put the Cash Express out of business on Tuesday by depositing 14 runs off of seven hits.
   "Our team has struggled the last couple of weeks. We are tied for first place right now, but hopefully we can work ourselves back into first by ourselves," said Carter County Bank coach David Mann.
   In the second inning, the Bank drew interest by compiling three runs to grab an early lead, which was never relinquished.
   Three straight walks and two errors were more damaging than bad checks bouncing for Cash Express.
   The Bank's first run came on a passed ball, which scored Heath Honeycutt.
   The next two runs came off of errors that allowed Chase Depew and Cody Buck to come home.
   Two more runs scored in the third, one of them coming off a passed ball to bring home Justin Fugua, and the other from an error in the outfield that allowed Isiah Osborne to cross the plate.
   Errors continued to haunt Cash Express in the fourth frame, as a play missed by the second baseman enabled Buck and Ethan Laws to score.
   The Express was finally able to cash in on a run in the top of the fourth, when C.J. Campbell knocked a single to center field to drive home Caleb Sheets.
   The Bank made its foreclosure in the fifth frame, knocking five hits and adding seven runs.
   The first run came off of a triple from Osborne that scored Tyler Blevins, and the last two from a Fugua double to score Laws and Zak Livingston.
   "Our bats are finally starting to come back around, and Isiah Osborne pitched a good ball game today," said Mann.