Sweet Water facing tough tests in Gulf Coast Classic

March 28, 2017 Jeremy D. Smith AHSAA, Alabama, baseball, Bulldogs, Sports, Sweet Water, Sweet Water High School, SWHS

Two days into the Gulf Coast Classic at Robertsdale High School and Sweet Water has seen no shortage of stiff competition as the Bulldogs have gone 1-2 over the tournament’s first two days.

Clarksville (Tenn.) 3, Sweet Water 0

The Bulldogs began their tournament run Monday with a 3-0 loss to Clarksville High School. Clarksville scored a pair of runs in the third inning and another in the sixth for the win.

Sweet Water managed only three hits in the contest, a trio of singles from Will Huckabee, Hunter Mendenhall and Flynn Mabowitz.

Sasha Smith allowed only two earned runs and four hits in three and two-thirds innings. Chase Joiner fanned one and scattered three hits while allowing one run.

Sweet Water 8, Oneonta 6

Sweet Water rebounded Tuesday with a thrilling 8-6 victory over Class 4A Oneonta. The Bulldogs allowed one run in the top of the first before surging in the middle innings. R.J. Rodgers drew a leadoff walk in the frame before scoring on a Sasha Smith grounder to tie the game. Shamar Lewis singled and later made his way home on a Will Huckabee single to put Sweet Water on top 2-1.

The Bulldogs then hung a three spot on the board in the fourth. Hunter Mendenhall singled to open the inning and gave way to courtesy runner Chastain Washington. Luke Davis singled to move the runner. Rodgers then had a single of his own to plate Washington. Lewis followed with a two-run homer to center to move the lead to 5-1.

After Oneonta got a run back in the fifth, Sweet Water scored again when Mendenhall singled in Jonah Smith. After Rodgers scored to make it 7-2 in the sixth, John Thomas Etheridge drove in Lewis to make it 8-2.

Four walks, a single, a hit-by-pitch, and an error in the seventh allowed Oneonta to cut it to 8-6.

Oak Mountain 9, Sweet Water 1

Things got ugly in a hurry for the Bulldogs in their second game of the day Tuesday as Class 7A Oak Mountain had two singles, two doubles, and two triples in the top of the first to build a quick 5-0 lead.

Sweet Water got a run back in the home half as Sasha Smith reached on an error and scored on a Will Huckabee grounder.

The Bulldogs got no closer as Oak Mountain added two runs in the third and two more in the sixth.

Sweet Water (14-5) is set to face Shades Mountain Christian Wednesday.