Troy O-Zone cruises to opening win, 18-1
Published 8:16 pm Saturday, July 20, 2013
The Troy O-Zone team let loose seven weeks of pent up energy and power in the opening round of the Dixie O-Zone Alabama State Tournament Saturday afternoon.
The team pounded out 13 hits, including three home runs, to rout Oxford 18-1 in the opening game for both teams. After picking up one run in the first on a ground-ball sacrifice from Lawson Scarbrough, Troy went to the whip in the second inning.
The team scored eight runs on four hits in the stanza,. Tyrell Jones parked a fastball from Oxford pitcher Harrison Hughston deep over the center field wall to pick up two RBIs and extend the Troy lead to 4-0.
Troy would never look back through the rest of the ball game, picking up runs seemingly at will. DQ Toney hit a shot over the right-center field fence in the third inning that clanked off the bottom of the permanent softball fence.
Noah Phillips added a late home run to cap off the Troy scoring.
Troy head coach Chris Huner jokingly said that he tried to find something to complain about in his post-game talk with his players.
“We came out and hit the ball really well today,” Huner said. “We had some good base hits, and picked up three home runs. They have been waiting for this day for a while, and they came to play.”
Tristen Carter picked up the win for Troy on the mound, throwing three innings and striking out three and allowing just two hits.
“Tristin threw well tonight,” Huner said. “We had a couple of walks early, but our defense made some plays and kept some runs off the board. We played well in every facet of the game today, and are looking forward to Sunday.”
Troy faces off with rival Enterprise in the second of the tournament Sunday at 6 p.m.