WS: Opportunistic Texas slaps Carolina, 3-1
ahead of the tag of North Carolina catcher Garrett Johnson in the
opening round of the 2010 Junior Dixie Boys World Series Satur-
day in Dothan, Alabama. Texas won, 3-1, and will face Florida
Sunday at 4 p.m. (Photo by John Krueger)
DOTHAN, Alabama -- The Texas Junior Dixie boys shook off some early tournament jitters and received some timely hits and excellent pitching and defense when they needed it to record a 3-1 victory over North Carolina in the first round of the 2010 Junior Dixie Boys World Series here at Hardy Field at the Miracle Field Complex.
The challenge ahead for the all-stars from Center won't get any easier as they will move on to take on the Florida All-Stars Sunday at 4 p.m. in the winners' side of the bracket in the second round. Florida overcame a 4-0 deficit to knock off the Louisiana All-Stars, 6-5. Florida won the contest in the bottom of the seventh, scoring the tying and winning runs with two outs.
It wasn't much easier for Texas as it scored three unearned runs on four hits, while leaving baserunners stranded, but took advantage of five North Carolina errors.
Outstanding defense and pitching drew the attention of Head Coach Bob Reeves, who said he figured his team was going to have to be on the top of its game going into the national tourney.
"We were tight, tight, tight today - it was pretty obvious," said Reeves following the game. "But now that we have one game under our belts, I think they'll do better tomorrow.
"North Carolina had great pitching and we knew they would. We researched them on the internet and their games have been tight and they have had strong pitching. We'd like to have hit the ball better, but we took advantage of opportunities; and other than leaving several baserunners stranded, we got the job done pretty well.
"It could have been better, but we'll take the win anytime. These kids did a great job and didn't lose their composure."
Colton McSwain led the Texas attack, finishing 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. He also picked up the victory on the hill, throwing two scoreless innings after getting the starting nod. He gave up just one hit, while striking out three and hitting two batters.
Dalton Horton worked in relief for Texas, allowing an unearned run on one hit with a pair of walks. Kam Owens pitched 1.1 innings, surrendering just two hits.
Taylor Tomlin gained the save. In 1.2 frames he gave up no runs on one hit with one strikeout.
"Our pitching strategy went pretty much as we planned," Reeves reasoned. "We pitched four guys and all of them were way under their limit so they'll be ready for tomorrow - plus a few more guys that we didn't even use."
North Carolina 'burned' it’s starting pitcher, Logan Haines, who went over the 45-pitch limit and won't be able to come back on Sunday when his team takes on Louisiana at 1 p.m. Haines pitched six innings, giving up three unearned runs on four hits with 12 strikeouts and just two walks.
Steven Hutsell finished the game on the hill for NC, fanning two and walking one while not giving up a run or a hit.
Texas didn't exactly hit the laces off the ball, but Reeves said he wasn't convinced that they would be able to. Other than McSwain, only Tanner Murdock and Caiden Rainbolt recorded hits - but they were timely hits that drove in the three runs.
With the game scoreless in the top of the second, Texas designated hitter Alec Lucas had reached base on an error and moved to second on a passed ball and advanced to third when Eric Vaughn reached base on an error. Murdock then sliced a RBI-single through the left side of the infield, pushing the go-ahead run across the plate.
After North Carolina tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth, McSwain gave Texas momentum in the sixth when he led off with a double to left-center. He moved to third when Tomlin reached base on an error and Tomlin put two runners in scoring position when he stole second.
Rainbolt had the 'weight of the world' on his shoulders when he stepped to the dish with two outs and a chance to give his team not only momentum, but confidence heading into the final frame. Rainbolt then calmly stroked a slow-rolling single through the infield and the throw couldn't beat Rainbolt and allowed both McSwain and Tomlin to score.
"We have guys all through the lineup that came through for us when we needed them; that's what they've done since we put this team together," Reeves said. "We feel we have excellent hitters in positions 1-9 in the lineup, so we expect the No.8 hitter to do was much as the 4-hole hitter. And they came through just like we expected them to."
Other Texas players who contributed to the win included catcher/second baseman Josh Burns, first baseman Adam Reeves, Kam Owens, C.J. Garner and Gaije Ranes. In addition to drawing a walk, Reeves made an outstanding snare of a line drive to end the sixth inning to leave two North Carolina baserunners in scoring position. And, in addition to his outstanding play behind the plate, Burns also recorded key assists while playing second base.
Now it's on the second round and the next challenge of the nation's best Dixie ballclubs.
Other first-round results from the 2010 Junior Dixie Boys World Series Saturday included Mississippi over Tennessee, 14-4, Virginia edged Georgia, 8-7, South Carolina blanked Arkansas, 8-0, and Alabama edged host-Dothan, Ala., 7-6.
Sunday's other second-round games include: North Carolina vs. Louisiana in an elimination game at 1 p.m.; Tennessee vs. Georgia in an elimination game at 1 p.m.; Arkansas vs. Dothan in an elimination game at 4 p.m.; Mississippi vs. Virginia at 7 p.m.; and South Carolina vs. Alabama at 7 p.m.