Boys WS: Texas uses 'big' bats to roll Florida
during Saturday's opening round of the 2011 Dixie Boys World Series in
Beaufort, SC. Texas won the game, 8-5. (Photo by John Krueger)
BEAUFORT, S.C. -- Adam Reeves and Colton McSwain showed the Florida All-Stars at the 2011 Dixie Boys World Series that things are always bigger in Texas - including their bats.
The No.3 and No.4 hitters in the Texas lineup both crushed shots over the fence to account for four runs Saturday afternoon as the Texas All-Stars built a 5-0 lead early and then pulled away again late for an 8-5 victory over the Florida All-Stars here at Burton Wells Park in the opening round of this national event.
The win will put the Roughriders in the winners' bracket in Sunday's second round and also gives the Center team a much-deserved break from the afternoon heat. With heat indexes rising above 115 degrees during Saturday's game, the victory means Texas will be playing North Carolina on Sunday at 7 p.m.
North Carolina handily defeated Tennessee, 18-1, on Saturday night. Other first-round scores included Louisiana knocking off Alabama, 10-4, Mississippi clipped Arkansas, 3-1, South Carolina bumped Georgia, 9-5, and host-team Beaufort County, SC ripping Virginia, 21-1.
Other second-round games on tap Sunday will include Alabama and Arkansas facing off, along with Florida and Tennessee. Georgia and Virginia will tangle as well, in all losers' bracket games at 4 p.m. at Burton Wells Park.
In addition to the 'Riders facing North Carolina in the winners' bracket, Louisiana will square off with Mississippi and South Carolina will have its hands full with Beaufort County.
Texas head coach Roscoe McSwain said there were several benefits of gaining the first-round victory, adding that getting that first victory, even in a double-elimination tourney, is important to the squad.
"It was critical (to get the win Saturday) because now we have the late game and it'll be much cooler," McSwain said after Saturday's victory. "And even though it's a double-elimination tournament, it's important to win as you go because once you lose, you're always fighting from behind and it puts you in situations where your strategy changes because there is 'no tomorrow.'
"I was proud of the kids the way they came out and were way more relaxed than they were last year when we played (in the Junior Boys World Series). They didn't go up to the batter's box and swing at anything; they were relaxed and didn't take many good pitches without swinging at them.
"I was disappointed in the two or three strikeouts we had looking at pitches, but it's still not that bad. Florida used three pitchers against us and they were all good. Even the last one they brought in threw the ball hard."
Texas used a flamethrower of its own in Dalton Horton. Horton started the game on the hill and, despite the extreme heat, lasted 3.1 innings before he began to tire in the extreme humid conditions. He finished the game with 69 pitches, which means he can't work on the mound again until Monday. But he only gave up four unearned runs on two hits, while fanning four and walking just two.
Texas struggled in Horton's last frame as the Roughriders committed three costly errors, resulting in five unearned runs as Florida went from a 5-0 deficit to tying the game at 5-5 in the fourth.
"We have struggled with about one bad inning per game, but what is even more important today is that we weathered the storm and then took care of business to put them away," said Center coach Paul Horton. "That shows that this team learned something from last year's experience."
Taylor Tomlin came out of the bullpen to record the win. Despite giving up an unearned run which allowed Florida to tie the game in the fourth, he allowed just one hit, while striking out three and walking two. He was also 'burned' and can't pitch again until Monday.
"We knew we were going to burn Dalton coming in," McSwain explained. "We intended on using him all the way up to 95 pitches if we had to, but we intended on keeping him under 75 so we could pitch him again Monday morning if we needed him.
"I think Dalton got hot and got a little frustrated, but he did a great job for us. But when we let (Florida) back in the game I knew I had to go get him. Then Taylor came in and did his job as well.
"That still leaves us in good shape. We have four starting pitchers to use on Sunday. If we can't win with them, then they don't deserve to win."
Helping the pitching duo was the Texas offensive attack that slammed 11 hits as the Roughrider bats were almost as hot as the afternoon sun. Colton McSwain finished 1-for-3, connecting with a three-run shot over the centerfield fence. He also drew a walk.
Reeves' round-tripper was of the solo variety, but it was important because it was the first hit of the game in the second inning and kick-started the Texas attack. He finished 2-for-4 with a RBI and run scored.
Caiden Rainbolt went 2-for-3 with a run scored, as did Tomlin, combining with his strong pitching performance. Tanner Murdock doubled, walked, stole a base and scored two runs as he posted a 1-for-2 effort.
Josh Burns went 2-for-4 with a run batted in and a run scored; Alec Lucas was 1-for-4 with a run scored from his lead-off spot.
Also contributing to the World Series opening win was Eric Vaughn, Jack Ford and C.J. Garner.
Jimmy Hartley started the game on the mound for Florida, but could only work two-plus innings before being pulled. He surrendered five runs (four earned) on six hits with three strikeouts and a walk.
Bailey Sanford pitched 1.2 innings and took the loss. He gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits with a strikeout. Stephen Wells pitched the final 2.1 innings, giving up an unearned run on one hit with five strikeouts and two walks.
Despite taking advantage of the three Texas errors to tie the game in the fourth, Florida managed just three hits on the day. Devin Diaz doubled, finishing 1-for-3 with a RBI.
Reeves' solo shot gave Texas a 1-0 lead to start the bottom of the second. Murdock then doubled to right-center and later scored when he was moving to third on a passed ball and the throw from the catcher went over the third baseman's head and into leftfield.
Lucas and Burns both singled to start the third frame and McSwain then sent a shot over the right-center fence to boost the Texas lead to a commanding 5-0.
But three errors and a pair of passed balls in the fourth frame allowed Florida to knot the score at 5-5 and put the Texas team on its heels.
Instead of folding, the Roughriders came right back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and another in the fifth to put the game away.
Rainbolt and Tomlin both singled to start off the fourth, with Rainbolt scoring on a passed ball and Tomlin sprinting home on a single up the middle by Burns.
Murdock then gave Texas a much-needed cushion when he walked and went to second on Rainbolt's single up the middle. He then stole third and ended up scoring on the play with an error on the Florida catcher.
Texas will now try to keep its momentum and pick up an all-important win on Sunday night before teams go into a double-session scheduled for Monday.
2011 DIXIE BOYS WORLD SERIES
Florida-Texas Linescore
Florida 000 500 0 = 5 3 3
Texas 023 210 x = 8 11 3
WP: Taylor Tomlin: 3.2INN 1R 0ER 1H 3SO 2BB.
LP: Bailey Sanford: 1.2INN 2R 1ER 4H 1SO 0BB.
2B: Devin Diaz (Florida); Tanner Murdock (Texas).
3B: None.
HR: Adam Reeves (Texas); Colton McSwain (Texas).
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TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Saturday, July 30
Gm 1: Louisiana 10, Alabama 5
Gm 2: Mississippi 3, Arkansas 1
Gm 3: Texas (Center) 8, Florida 5
Gm 4: North Carolina 18, Tennessee 1
Gm 5: South Carolina 9, Georgia 4
Gm 6: Beaufort County, SC 21, Virginia 1
Sunday, July 31
(All Times Eastern Standard Time)
Gm 7: Arkanas (0-1) vs. Alabama (0-1) (Field 3), 4 p.m.
Gm 8: Tennessee (0-1) vs. Florida (0-1) (Field 2), 4 p.m.
Gm 9: Virginia (0-1) vs. Georgia (0-1) (Field 1), 4 p.m.
Gm 10: Louisiana (1-0) vs. Mississippi (1-0) (Field 3), 7 p.m.
Gm 11: Texas (1-0) vs. North Carolina (1-0) (Field 2), 7 p.m.
Gm 12: South Carolina (1-0) vs. Beaufort County (1-0) (Field 1), 7 p.m.