Demopolis strands eight in 1-0 loss to Mobile Christian

February 20, 2015February 20, 2015 Jeremy D. Smith AHSAA, Alabama, baseball, Demopolis, demopolis high school, DHS, prep sports

Demopolis (0-1) loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh but failed to score en route to a 1-0 season-opening loss to Mobile Christian Friday night.

In the home half of the seventh inning, Luke Yelverton ripped a single to right field with one away before Seth Aiken notched a single up the middle for his second hit of the game. Two batters later, Jamarcus Ezell drew a two-out walk to load the bases.

Mobile Christian reliever Grayson Williams then induced a pop up that catcher Landon Powell chased near the third base dugout and corralled while falling backward toward the field of play, ending the game.

The Tigers stranded eight runners in a game in which they scattered four hits, three walks and a hit batsman.

“Pitching wise and defense, we gave ourselves a chance to win and really threw the ball well. Tripp came in and worked one-hit ball over five. I think we gave up three hits total. You give up one run in high school baseball, you’re supposed to have a chance to win,” Demopolis coach James Moody said. “When you get runners on base, you’ve got to move them and you’ve got to get them in. Until we can figure out how to do that and get a little toughness and grit about us, we’re going to be in this situation more often.”

Mobile Christian scored the lone run of the game in the top of the first. Tucker Powell drew a 1-out walk and moved up on a Landon Powell single before scoring on a RBI grounder by Hunter Avery.

Demopolis starter Adam Sellers (0-1) struck out two in the frame and exited after one inning, taking the loss for the effort.

Tripp Perry worked five innings in relief for the Tigers, striking out five, walking two and hitting one in the process. The lone hit he surrendered was a blooper by Anthony Edwards, the first batter of the second inning.

Jacob Rodrigues worked one inning of relief for Demopolis, striking out one and giving up a single.

Avery got the win for the Leopards, striking out seven over four innings of work while giving up two hits and walking two. Williams struck out three, gave up two hits, walked one and plunked one on the way to the save.

“Obviously I hope we come back and swing the bats better. I hope they refocus and get their attitude back to where it needs to be,” Moody said. “A 1-0 ball game in these kind of conditions, there’s a lot of positives about it, certainly there is. We’ve just got to come back and keep playing, hope a few good things happen, move forward and get a little better each game.”

The Tigers are set to play again Saturday at 10 a.m.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 F

MC 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

DHS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

R H E LOB

MC 1 3 1 5

DHS 0 8 1 8

WP – Hunter Avery – 4IPs, 7Ks, 2Hs, 2BBs, 0Rs

LP – Adam Sellers – IP, H, BB, R, ER, 2Ks

S – Grayson Williams – 3IPs, 3Ks, 2Hs, BB, HBP

— Tripp Perry (DHS) – 5IPs, 5Ks, H, 2BBs, HBP, 0Rs

— Jacob Rodrigues (DHS) – IP, H, K