Sweet Water rolls over Maplesville, heads to third round

Sweet Water (20-10) is on the way to the third round of the Class 1A state playoffs after sweeping Maplesville Thursday.

SWEET WATER 7, MAPLESVILLE 4

The Bulldogs hit the road and built a 7-1 lead on the Red Devils in game one. Chance Broussard opened the scoring in the top of the first when he doubled in Sasha Smith. Michael Allen Cole later singled in Broussard for the 2-0 lead.

Maplesville used a walk, catcher’s interference, a hit-by-pitch and a fielder’s choice to plate Jackson Abbott in the first and cut the deficit to 2-1. Following that inning, John Thomas Etheridge locked in following that fracas and struck out eight of the next 10 batters he faced.

The Bulldogs gave him the run support he needed in the fourth. Broussard’s sacrifice fly scored Chastain Washington. Two batters later, Cole stroked a three-run double to drive in Braiden Broussard, Smith and Etheridge to make it 6-1. Sweet Water added one more in the sixth when Etheridge’s grounder plated Chance Broussard.

Christin Brown hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to set the final margin.

Etheridge struck out 13 batters over six innings of work while allowing only one hit in the win.

SWEET WATER 17, MAPLESVILLE 3

Game two of the series did not stay close for long. The Bulldogs scored eight in the third and five in the fourth to put the game away.

Chance Broussard’s sac fly in the first drove in his younger brother for the 1-0 lead. Reid Joiner smacked a two-run homer in the second for the 3-0 advantage. Washington later scored on an error in the same frame.

C.J. White singled in Joiner in the bottom of the third for the 5-0 lead. Braiden Broussard drew a bases-loaded walk two batters later to plate Walker Thompson. Chance Broussard then took a bases-loaded walk of his own to plate White. Etheridge followed with a single to plate Washington for the 8-0 lead.

After Braiden Broussard and Jalen Horton-Lewis scored on an error, Cole launched a two-run homer to make it 12-0. Washington added a run on an error in the fourth before Chance Broussard singled in his brother. Two batters later, Cole singled home Smith. Joiner’s double in the ensuing at-bat plated Etheridge and Cole to leave it at 17-2.

Chance Broussard got the win, striking out 13 batters over five in a complete game effort while allowing three hits.

Sweet Water will face the winner of Red Level and Holy Spirit next week.