Tigers shake off miscues to extend playoff series with Marbury
After having the wheels unceremoniously come off to end game one with a 9-2 loss, Demopolis battled through potentially deflating moments for a 4-3 victory over Marbury in game two.
The Tigers jumped on top early in the second game of the Class 5A state playoff first round series. DeDe Davis opened the game with a single before Andrew Patterson reached on an error. A sacrifice fly from Davis Petrey plated Davis for the 1-0 lead. Charles Casper followed with a single to plate Patterson for a 2-0 advantage.
Marbury cut the Demopolis lead in half in the bottom of the third when Brandon Wilkes hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Mason Williamson.
The Tigers wasted no time getting back that run and then some as they opened the fourth with four straight singles. Hudson Holley and Henry Overmyer hit safely before Peyton Geary singled in Holley. Hayes Atkins then singled home Overmyer to move the advantage to 4-1. The potentially big inning turned sour when the Tigers had runners on first and second and nobody out. The batter struck out before both runners were picked off, allowing Marbury to record an unconventional triple play.
“It seemed like, after we had the base running blunder, that we went into shock,” Demopolis coach James Moody said of what could have been a disastrous turning point for his team. “Even with all that being said, we get a chance to come to the park tomorrow and play.”
The Bulldogs added to the momentum in the bottom of the fourth as Brayden Baggett reached on an error and scored on Richard Davies’ single to narrow it to 4-2. Marbury pulled closer again in the bottom of the fifth as Taylor Smith scored on a fielder’s choice from Michael Wurtz.
Demopolis found its season hanging in the balance with two away in the bottom of the seventh after Wurtz doubled and Baggett took an intentional walk. Patterson dug in and struck out the next batter swinging to end the game and record the save.
Patterson worked three innings while striking out three and scattering two walks and two hits.
“He throws strikes and he is able to throw his breaking ball for a strike. At this level, when you can do that, you’ve got a chance. That’s the reason we try to use him in that situation,” Moody said.
Atkins got the win while allowing three hits in four innings of work.
Demopolis dropped game one after errors helped the Bulldogs score nine runs in the last two innings of play.
Holley worked six strong innings and allowed no earned runs but was saddled with the loss as the defense committed four errors behind him.
The Tigers will look to extend their season Saturday when they host game three at noon.
“I just tell them to get rest. What happened today, think about it tonight good and bad. Then flush it out. When you wake up, it’s gone,” Moody said. “They found a way to win the second one and I think they’ll be ready to play.”
