Sweet Water takes two from Millry to win area title

Sweet Water (14-13) took two of three games from area foe Millry last Thursday and Friday.

The Bulldogs opened with a 13-3 win over Millry Thursday. Tanner Luker (4-2) picked up the win, working six innings and allowing only two earned runs and six hits while striking out five.

Paul Weatherly led the offensive effort, finishing 4-for-4 with three stolen bases, three runs scored and three RBIs.

Hunter Mendenhall had a single and double while Tate Gibbs and Jonah Smith eache finished with two hits. Luker, Xavier McIntosh and Branson Davis also collected hits in the contest.

The Bulldogs started the Friday double-header with a 3-1 loss to Millry. Harris Etheridge worked five innings, giving up one run on three hits while striking out two and walking three. Jacob Mendenhall (3-3) took the loss, working one-third of an inning.

“At the plate, we had a good approach all day, but could not get timely hits,” Sweet Water coach Kevin Byrd said. “When we did hit the ball hard, Millry was able to make a play on it.”

Luker finished the contest 2-for-3 with a walk, a pair of singles and a stolen base. Smith, McIntosh and Davis each added a hit. Gibbs scored the lone run of the game.

Sweet Water bounced back to win the rubber match with a 4-2 victory.

“Hard fought battle,” Byrd said. “Paul (Weatherly) threw a great game, just what we needed out of him headed into the playoffs.”

Weatherly (5-3) worked a complete game, allowing four hits, three walks and two earned runs while striking out four.

Will Huckabee had a base-clearing double with two outs in the fifth that pulled his team out of a 2-1 hole.

Wynn Thompson started the fifth inning rally with a single. He later added another hit in the sixth. Luker also finished with two hits on the day. Mendenhall and Gibbs also had one hit apiece in the contest.

“The lineup seems to be working well,” Byrd said. “Looking forward to getting a good week of practice in before the first round. The young guys have played like veterans. The team has learned to battle and not panic in stressful situations. That will be tested this week with Leroy. Very tough matchup for us. They have a lot of senior leadership, but we are playing well now.”

The Bulldogs are set to get one final tune-up when they visit Demopolis Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. Sweet Water is slated to host Leroy in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs Friday with a double-header that begins at 4 p.m.

Should the squads split the twinbill, a decisive game three would take place Saturday.