YBB: Horton, Center 'Boys' shut down EMC, 5-0
plate as he leaps to make his home run official during Tuesday night's 5-0
win over East Montgomery County. (Photo by John Krueger)
CENTER, Tx -- The group of Center 13-14 year-old all-stars that took the field in a high-pressure game Tuesday night against East Montgomery County here at Tommy Morrison Field with an unbeaten mark at stake heading into the semifinals is no stranger to 'money' games.
Last year's Dixie Texas Junior Boys Texas state champs, who now play at the Dixie Boys level, appeared to use some of that experience from last year's World Series when they took clamped down defensively on EMC and recorded a 5-0 shutout. The win improved Center to 3-0 in the state tourney and makes Center the only unbeaten squad heading into Wednesday night's semifinal round.
Center will take on Livingston back at Tommy Morrison Field at the Center Noon Lions Baseball Park on Wednesday at 8 p.m. for the right to play for back-to-back World Series berths. Livingston knocked out Texarkana, 17-7, to improve to 2-1 in tourney play. Livingston's only setback has come to the Roughriders on Sunday night, 10-0. Center can eliminate Livingston with a win Wednesday.
East Montgomery County slips to 2-1 with the loss and is still alive in the tournament. EMC will face Marshall (3-1) in a 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday in an elimination game.
The championship round will be played on Thursday night in Center.
Good team often rise to the top with stellar defensive plays when games are on the line. Center came up with some gems on Tuesday night.
The biggest was the play of starting hurler Dalton Horton. The lanky pitcher kept EMC batters off-balance most of the night and silenced a once-vocal crowd from East Montgomery County as the night wore on. He pitched a two-hitter, striking out 12 and not allowing a walk. He did hit one batter as he went the distance.
A play that loomed large came in the bottom of the third with Center leading 1-0. After Horton had hit EMC lead-off hitter Devin Hines, Colby Parker stepped to the dish and lined what first appeared to be a single to center. But Center's Taylor Tomlin came charging at the ball, dove and went airborne as he caught the ball just before hitting the turf. He then leaped to his feet, fired the ball to Adam Reeves at first for the double play to end the East Montgomery County threat.
Horton set the tone not only with his pitching but his head's-up defensive play as well. After EMC's Andy Rodriguez singled after a pair of strike outs in the first frame, Rodriguez tried to catch Horton 'sleeping' and steal second immediately after the play ended. Horton was alerted to the runner's steal attempt, fired the ball to second base and Tanner Murdock was there to make the tag and end the threat.
On the offensive side, Center kept pressure on by picking away at the tough EMC defense and pitching staff. Eric Vaughn gave the 'Riders a 1-0 lead in the third when he reached base on an infield single. He moved to second on the play when the EMC third baseman threw the ball away. Vaughn advanced to third on a ground out by Josh Burns and he dove into home plate after a passed ball by EMC.
The Roughriders added three more insurance runs in the fifth inning to create a 4-0 lead. Alec Lucas was hit by a pitch and he proceeded to steal second and then third. Lucas scored on Colton McSwain's single up the middle.
Reeves then stepped to the dish and slapped a two-run shot over the right field fence to push McSwain across and charge the hometown overflow crowd as Center upped its lead to 4-0.
Lucas then put the final nail in the coffin with a solo homer to left-center field to lead off the top of the seventh.
McSwain was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate for Center, drawing a walk, stealing one base and driving in a run. Vaughn went 1-for-3 with a run scored and Lucas hammered his solo shot in three at-bats. Lucas scored twice, stole two bases, was hit by a pitch and drove in a run.
Tanner Murdock also chipped in a pair of hits in three at-bats for Center, while Reeves went 1-for-3 with his home run, two RBIs, a walk and a run scored.
Also chipping in the Center effort was Josh Burns (walk), Horton (walk), Tomlin, Caiden Rainbolt, Jack Ford and C.J. Garner.
Justin Reid started the game on the mound for EMC and took the loss. In 3.2 innings he gave up an unearned run on three hits with eight strikeouts and a pair of walks. Andy Rodriguez worked the next 2.1 frames, giving up four runs on three hits, with six strikeouts and a walk.
Jacob Pillow wrapped up the game for EMC. In one inning he surrendered only a walk, while striking out a batter.
Rodriguez had both hits for EMC.
Dixie Boys (13-14) State Tournament Results
Saturday, July 2
Gm 1: Tyler County 13, Tri-County 1
Gm 2: Marshall 1, Hudson 0 (forfeit - Hudson dropped out)
Gm 3: East Montgomery County (EMC) 12, Diboll 2
Gm 4: Livingston 13, Texarkana 4
Gm 5: Center 17, Shepherd 3 (5 inn.)
Sunday, July 3
Gm 6: Tri-County 1, Hudson 0 (forfeit)
Gm 7: Texarkana 8, Diboll 6 - Diboll is eliminated
Gm 8: Marshall 7, Tyler County 6
Gm 9: Center 10, Livingston 0 (5 inn.)
Monday, July 4
Gm 10: Texarkana 26, Tri-County 6 - Tri-County is eliminated
Gm 11: Shepherd 7, Tyler County 3 - Tyler County is eliminated
Gm 12: East Montgomery County (EMC) 16, Marshall 0
Tuesday, July 5
Gm 13: Livingston 17, Texarkana 7 - Texarkana is eliminated
Gm 14: Marshall 16, Shepherd 6 - Shepherd is eliminated
Gm 15: Center 5, East Montgomery County 0
Wednesday, July 6
Gm 16: Marshall (3-1) vs. East Montgomery Conty (2-1), 5:30 p.m.
Gm 17: Center (3-0) vs. Livingston (2-1), 8 p.m.
Thursday, July 7
Championship Round
Gm 18: TBA, 5:30 p.m.
Gm 19: TBA (if necessary), 8 p.m.