Dixie Boys open with pair of wins
Published 10:26 pm Tuesday, July 9, 2013
The Troy Dixie Boys baseball tournament team traveled to Dothan over the weekend looking to turn some heads. And they did just that.
Troy knocked off Wicksburg 9-8 on Sunday, and bested Taylor-Rehobeth 11-1 on Monday, Leaving them as one of two remaining undefeated teams.
The team battled Mother Nature through the tournaments early stages, with its first game stretching over the course of three days.
Troy first game, versus Wicksburg, was scheduled for a Friday night first pitch, but torrential and persistent rain moved the game to Saturday. After three innings of play on Saturday, the rain returned and moved the conclusion of the game to Sunday.
“We would have been in a situation if we needed to play two on Saturday,” said head coach Sam Kitchens. “We played one game over three days, and scored just enough to win it. These kids played hard every time out.”
In the second game, Troy routed Taylor-Rehobeth 11-1 behind the one-two pitching punch of Bryson Gandy and Cade Calhoun. The duo combined for a no-hitter and Gandy stuck out all 12 outs through his innings.
“Neither of the guys gave up an earned run,” Kitchens said. “Taylor-Rehobeth scored on an error and the guy reached on an error, so the run that scored was unearned. They threw the ball very well and challenged batters, and it worked out good for us.”
Kitchens said that the best thing that he has seen from his team is the way they compete every pitch. He feels that any of his players can contribute on any night.
“We have had different guys step up in both games,” Kitchens said. “They have surprised me a little, but they have listened to what we have told them. They have really taken it to heart.”
As of press time, Troy was in a match up against Headland, the only other undefeated team in the tournament.