Dramatic play kept Red Sox in the game 7/14/2015
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, July 14, 2015
The 8-year-old Batesville Red Sox fell in the first game, but battled back to claim third place in the state championship at J. P. Hudson Park last weekend. Team members and coaches include (first row, l. to r.) Clayton Hentz, Taylor Anderson, Alex Jackson, Walker Cook, Kason Dettor, Houston Boyette; (second row) Jadon Dishmon, Gage Bryant, Calib Lyle, Logan Pratt, Dalton McGee, Caleb Johnson; (third row) coaches Dustin Patton, Dusty Dettor, Corey Pratt, Rodney Johnson and Scott Anderson. The P
By Brad Greer
Batesville opened up the 15-team tournament Thursday with a pair of easy wins over Hernando, 16-7, and 21-0 over Marshall County.
The Red Sox spotted Hernando a 4-0 lead in the top of the first before plating seven runs in the bottom half of the frame. Caleb Johnson and Dalton McGee led off with back-to-back singles before Logan Pratt crushed a three-run home run to straight away center field that knotted the game at four. Alex Jackson, Jaden Dishmon and Tanner Boyette followed with singles that produced the final three runs of the frame.
One inning later, Calib Lyle delivered a two-run single to plate Johnson and McGee that gave Batesville the lead for good. The Sox extended its margin to 12-6 in the third with three runs before adding two runs each in the fourth and fifth innings.
Boyette led Batesville offensively with three singles while scoring three runs. Johnson provided a double and two singles followed by Jackson with a single and a two-run double in the fourth inning.
Walker Cook also drove in two runs with a pair of singles. Gage Bryant and Clayton Hentz provided singles in the victory.
After receiving a bye on Friday, the Sox pulled a dramatic 15-12 win over Saltillo Saturday morning to remain in the winners bracket. Batesville found themselves down to its final out trailing 11-10 with two outs in the top of the sixth before rallying for five runs.
Kason Dettor reached on a fielder’ choice to get the rally started before Johnson got on by an error. McGee and Lyle put Batesville ahead to stay with consecutive singles.
Pratt then iced the contest with his second three-run home run of the tournament to make the score 15-11.
Saltillo added one run in the bottom half of the frame but had a runner thrown out at third base for out number three.
Bryant provided three singles and scored three runs for the Sox while Pratt drove in five runs with a home run, double and single. McGee chipped in with two singles and scored three runs. Johnson, Lyle, Jackson, Cook, Hentz and Dettor all provided singles in the victory.
Batesville fell into the losers bracket with an 11-2 loss to Greenville Saturday night before being eliminated by Senatobia Sunday to earn a third-place finish.
