YBB: Idabel drops Rams in Majors opener, 5-3
during Saturday's opening roud of the Dixie Majors State Tourn-
ament in Center. Idabel topped the Rams, 5-3. (Photo by John
Krueger)
CENTER -- After a rough start, the Joaquin Major (12 Year Old) All-Stars battled back to tie Idabel in the Dixie Majors State Tournament here on Center Noon Lions Field, but couldn't generate enough offense for the remainder of the tourney opener, falling by a 5-3 count on this muggy Saturday afternoon.
The opening round loss gave the Rams little room for error the rest of the way as they had to attempt to battle back through the losers' side of the bracket to get to the title contest. Joaquin returned to action Sunday afternoon, where they dropped a 17-7 decision to Hudson to fall from the tournament in an elimination game.
Solid hitting was tough to come by for the Rams as Idabel pitchers Coby Stout, Demitrius Faulks and Derrick Brewer combined for a two-hitter to record the victory. Stout picked up the win on the hill. In two frames he allowed three unearned runs on one hit, while walking three and fanning three.
Faulks worked the middle innings, not allowing a run on one hit with a pair of strikeouts and one walk. Brewer picked up the save, working two scoreless and hitless innings, while striking out three Joaquin batters.
The Rams also used platoon pitching in the opener. Cole Powdrill was tagged with the loss as he started the game and allowed only one earned run (4 total) on three hits with three walks and a pair of strikeouts.
Nate Belrose then came out of the Joaquin bullpen, allowing one run on one hit, while striking out a pair and walking just one. Tanner Williams finished up the contest on the hill, throwing a pair of scoreless innings on two hits. He also fanned five.
Idabel grabbed the momentum in the top of the first frame as Coby Stout (2-for-3, run, RBI) reached base on an error and scored one out later when Faulks (1-for-2, 3B, HP) tripled. Brewer (2-for-3, HR, 2 runs, RBI) followed that with a single and Garyt Seagraves loaded the bases when he reached base on an error.
Faulks plated on a walk by Davin Barret and Hunt Tuck hit a long fly ball to left field, which allowed Brewer to make it a 3-0 lead.
But the Rams bounced back in the bottom of the frame to knot the score at 3-3. Kase Yates and Trevor Baker both reached base on errors and Cole Powdrill followed that with a walk to juice the bases.
Williams singled up the middle to score Yates and Baker and Powdrill both plated on passed balls to give Joaquin new life.
But that was almost all the offense Joaquin would generate the rest of the game as the Rams would manage just one hit in the final five frames and left three baserunners stranded in scoring position at the end of innings.
Meanwhile, Idabel added a run in the second and third frames to give the visiting all-stars some cushion. Brady Van walked and moved to second on a passed ball in the second frame. He later scored on a single to leftfield by Stout.
Brewer helped his own cause at the plate in the third, smashing a solo homer over the right field fence with two outs.
Williams led the Joaquin offensive charge, finishing 2-for-3 with a double, a stolen base and a RBI. Yates added a pair of walks and Hunter Harper was hit by a pitch and stole a base. Trey Wilkerson and Rudy Montiel also drew walks.
Other players contributing for Joaquin included Nate Belrose, Bryan Clark, Justin Hooper, Peyton Martinez and Hayden Jergins.
Other Idabel players chipping in to assist in the victory were Lloynell Allen, Gavin Eagen, Daniel Causey, Matt black and Tyriq French.