12U State: Dragons bats fall silent late, 11-1
Hudson's Cory Brock slides into second during Saturday's first-round
action at Center Noon Lions Park in Center. Hudson won the game, 12-1.
(Photo by John Krueger)
CENTER, Tx -- The Shelbyville 12U Major All-Stars couldn't get their bats started early on and it cost the Dragons as Hudson used a five-run third inning to build a lead which it never relinquished as it handed the Dragons an 11-1 setback in five innings in the opening round of the Dixie Majors 12U State Tournament here at Center Noon Lions Park Saturday morning.
The setback means Shelbyville can't afford another loss if it wants to stay in contention for the state title. The Dragons will meet Cooper Sunday at 2 p.m. Cooper fell to Huntington, 9-2, on Saturday.
Other first-round scores in the 12U state tourney included Tri Cities knocking off Commerce, 10-2, Diboll clipped Joaquin, 5-3, and Tyler County National bumped Center, 16-7.
The other second-round game in the losers' bracket on Sunday include Commerce facing Center at 4 p.m. Joaquin will have a bye until Monday at 2 p.m.
In the winner's side, Idabel, Oklahoma, which received a bye in the opening round, will battle Diboll at 12-noon, while Hudson and Huntington will tangle at 6 p.m. and Tri Cities will meet Tyler County National at 8 p.m.
Shelbyville managed just one extra-base hit in its opener against Hudson. Tyler Trimble posted a 1-for-2 outing, tagging a double and scoring a run. Rightfielder Jake Wagstaff was a perfect 2-for-2 at the dish. Trevor Wilburn and Cole Jones were both 1-for-2 at the plate, while Kaleb James added a single in two at-bats, while driving in a run.
Other players who played in the game for Shelbyville included Riley Dewitz, Ryan Bailey, Wade Baty, Cale Cooper (walk), Dawson Kay, Logan Jefferson and Tre Sims.
Baty received the loss on the hill for Shelbyville. He pitched the first three innings, giving up only one earned run (7 total) on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks.
James came out of the bullpen in the final two frames, giving up four runs on five hits with four walks.
Hudson's steady offensive performance allowed the Hornets to overcome Shelbyville's 1-0 lead in the second with two runs in that inning, before following that up with a five-run third, three more in the fourth and one in the fifth.
Cory Brock led the balanced attack for Hudson as the lead-off hitter went 2-for-4 with a stolen base, a run scored and a run batted in. Eight other Hornet players added a hit, with Kyle Gavara and Cade Harris tapping doubles.
Treyor Havard was the winning hurler for Hudson as he pitched the first four innings, allowing just one run on four hits with a pair of strikeouts and one walk.
Shelbyville had a chance to build a large lead in the second inning, but was only able to push one run across the plate. Trimble doubled to lead-off the frame, but the next two batters grounded out for the Dragons. Trimble plated when James grounded out.
It appeared like the Dragons might add to their total when Wagstaff singled and moved to second on a wild pitch. Cooper then walked and Wilburn singled to load the bases with two outs. But the runners were left stranded at the end of the inning.
Hudson then scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the inning to take its first lead, 2-1, then added five more - with only one of them earned - in the third before adding three runs on four hits in the fourth to begin pulling away.
Dixie Majors (12U) State Tournament
(at Center Noon Lions Park, Center, Tx.)
SATURDAY, JULY 16
Gm 1: Hudson 11, Shelbyville 1
Gm 2: Huntington 9, Cooper 2
Gm 3: Tri Cities 10, Commerce 2
Gm 5: Diboll 5, Joaquin 3
Gm 4: Tyler County National 16, Center 7
Note: Idabel, Okla. had a BYE
SUNDAY, JULY 17
Gm 6: Idabel, Okla. vs. Diboll, 12 p.m.
Gm 7: Shelbyville vs. Cooper, 2 p.m.
Gm 8: Commerce vs. Center, 4 p.m.
Gm 9: Hudson vs. Huntington, 6 p.m.
Gm 10: Tri Cities vs. Tyler County Nat., 8 p.m.
Note: Joaquin receives a BYE until Monday