Troy Americans defeat Crenshaw County

Published 10:55 pm Tuesday, June 29, 2010

With just two days of play left in the District 9 coach pitch tournament, only four teams remain, and one of those teams is Troy American.

The Americans defeated Crenshaw County 14-5 in an elimination game Tuesday to stay alive.

Since losing their first game of the tournament to Troy National, the Americans have been on an absolute roll, outscoring its opponents 36-9.

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“We’re just riding that rollercoaster,” said head coach Brett Stallworth. “Right now, we’re at a high point, and we hope we can stay there. But, with these kids, hitting is contagious. Once one of them starts hitting, they all start hitting.”

After retiring the side in order in the top of the first, Troy struck in the bottom half of the inning.

The Americans scored four runs on RBI singles from Parker Sessions and Noah Prestwood before Adrian Cardwell made it 4-0 with his two-RBI single.

Crenshaw County scored three runs in the top of the second to make it 4-3, but would get no closer.

Troy extended its lead in the bottom of the second, scoring four runs on seven hits.

Skylar Kidd and Darryl Lee had RBI singles in the inning, while Ryan Ledford drove in two runs with his single to make it 8-3, Troy.

The Americans kept it going in the third, scoring three runs on a solo inside-the-park home run from Cardwell, an RBI single from Coby Johnson and an RBI fielder’s choice by Kidd.

Walker Stallworth made it 12-3 with an RBI single in the fourth, and Kidd drove in Troy’s final two runs with a two-RBI single in the fifth that made it 14-5.

Troy had several remarkable offensive performances in the win.

Kidd was 2-3 with four RBIs, Johnson was 3-3 with an RBI and a run scored, Jeffery Knotts was 3-3 with three runs scored, Cardwell was 3-3 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored, Sessions was 3-3 with an RBI and two runs scored and Ledford was 3-3 with two RBIs.

As impressive as the offense was, so too was the Trojan defense. The Trojans have not allowed more than five runs in their last three games.

Now, Troy will face Eufaula National today at 6 p.m. The winner will advance to the championship game at 6 p.m. Thursday.