Smith subdues Thomasville in Sweet Water opener

Sweet Water’s quest to repeat as Class 1A state baseball champions officially began Monday night with a familiar foe. The Bulldogs started the 2018 campaign in Thomasville and handed the ball to staff ace Jonah Smith.

Sweet Water gave the UAB signee a run in the second inning and two more in the fourth on its way to a 3-1 season-opening victory.

After SWHS senior Chance Broussard singled to lead off the second and Luke Davis drew a walk, Xavier Lucy came in as a courtesy runner. Two batters later, Reid Joiner stroked a double to center to plate Lucy for the 1-0 lead.

Sweet Water struck again in the fourth with a Chastian Washington double followed by a Shamar Lewis single. Two batters later, Smith singled in Washington to move the lead to 2-0. Lewis then scored on a passed ball to move the advantage to 3-0.

Thomasville scored its lone run in the bottom of the sixth when Bralen Washington reached on an error, moved to second on a passed ball, and scored on another error.

Smith (1-0) finished the the complete game win on 97 pitches, striking out 10 and scattering three hits, a walk, and one unearned run.

The Bulldogs bats tallied six hits in the contest with Sasha Smith, Jonah Smith, Chance Broussard, Joiner, Washington and Lewis each notching one.