Different lineup, same result for Dixie Boys
Published 1:08 am Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Troy used a revamped lineup and Dothan miscues to defeat the host team 9-3 and advance to the Dixie Boys District 6 title game.
Head coach Gary Fox thought mixing things up a bit might help kick start the offence in certain spots. He was right.
Fox moved Rush Hixon from batting second to the leadoff spot and pushed Devin Hooks up to sixth. Both would spark rallies with key hits.
“Rush started the game off with a hit and Devin did the same later,” Fox said. “They helped start things up for us.”
Xavius Burden didn’t need a change to stay hot. Burden finished 3-for-3 and is 7-for-7 in the past two games.
With the help of four first inning errors, Troy jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
Dothan closed the gap to 3-1 in the third on a Chase Benton homerun.
Troy would get that run back in the bottom half of the third thanks to a bases loaded throwing error. That would be all for Fox’s boys, however, as they would leave the bags packed to end the inning.
“We had an opportunity to do some damage and just did not get it done.”
In the fifth, Chase Hartley singled in Reilly Fox, which was followed by a Jason Fleming walk to load the bases. Cole LaBrant stepped in and promptly delivered a 2-RBI double into right-center field giving Troy a 7-1 advantage.
“That was the hit that got us going,” said Fox. “That gave us some breathing room.”
Dothan would add two runs in the sixth before Hixon come on in relief to shut the door.
Hartley started on the mound for Troy allowing a lone run in 3 1/3 innings.
With the win, Troy advances to play Ashford for the district championship Wednesday. Game time is 6 p.m.