Troy Nationals fall to Enterprise Americans

Published 8:35 pm Saturday, July 10, 2010

With the first day of the District Tournament in the books Friday night at the Troy Sportsplex, it was time for day two and also the start of a tournament season for a Troy team.

The Troy Dixie-Minor Nationals began its run for a championship Saturday evening, however, it ran into a bit of a speed bump against its first opponent, the Enterprise Americans team.

After taking an early lead, Troy was unable to hold on as Enterprise scored four late runs to win, 4-1.

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“I thought we played extremely well (Saturday night), we just couldn’t hit the ball,” head coach Derek Wilkes said after the tough loss.

“It was a super game though. I thought the guys played great defense and pitched really well.”

Troy took a 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to Cade Calhoun, who drew a bases loaded walk, bringing in Juhmir Lampley.

That would be the last time Troy would cross the plate, unfortunately.

The score would remain the same until the fourth inning, when Enterprise finally got to Troy starting pitcher, Graham Wilkes, scoring three runs in the inning.

Wilkes threw three and a third innings, giving up three runs off of two hits and four walks.

He also struck two batters.

Enterprise would tact on another run in the following inning off of Wilkes’ replacement, Noah Phillips, to go up 4-1.

Phillips pitched an inning, striking out one, while giving up a run on a hit and walk.

Phillips’ brother, Daniel, came into pitch in the sixth inning, and did not allow a hit.

Offensively, while Troy was patient at the plate, it struggled to get hits, as Enterprise held the home team to just two hits.

Noah Phillips and Wilkes each reached base thanks to contact while, Lampley, Daniel Phillips, Calhoun and Brock Huner all reached base thanks to walks.

“The hits will come in cycles,” the coach said. “That’s something I’m not worried about – I know these kids are going to work just as hard in the next game.”

The next Troy game will take place on Monday at 6 p.m. against either the Enterprise Nationals team or Geneva.

“I thought the team put fourth a great effort today,” Wilkes said. “No one gave up.”

“I thought the pitching looked great and we didn’t give up an error and that says a lot about how good the defense played.

“The kids are disappointed that they lost, but I know they are going to bounce back,” the coach added.