Junior Boys bow out
Published 3:00 am Tuesday, August 8, 2017
The Troy Junior Dixie Boys had their run at a World Series title come to an end on Monday afternoon when they fell to Jefferson Parish 10-0 after they defeated Dallas, North Carolina in the morning session 11-9.
“We didn’t play our best in that first game,” said head coach Chris Huner. “Right from the first inning, the boys got down and we just couldn’t get anything going. Give credit to them; they played a really good game. They made some great plays and they took some hits away from us. They are a sound club and for whatever reason we just couldn’t get the hits.”
In game one, Dallas scored six runs over the first three innings, but a four-run first and a five-run sixth propelled Troy to a win keeping them alive for Monday’s afternoon session.
“That was a very emotional win,” Huner said. “They actually came back three different times. I was very proud of the guys; they showed a lot of fight.”
Pres Jefcoat got the start and pitched four innings allowing six runs, four of which were earned on five hits and four walks. Jayden Jordan pitched the next two innings and allowed three total runs, one of them earned on one hit. Noah Prestwood pitched the final inning, earning the save.
Troy out-hit Dallas 14-7 led by Prestwood and Adrian Cardwell who both went 3-4.
“The bats kept coming around and we got the hits that kept us in the game,” Huner said. “That gave us a chance to win.”
Troy fell behind 2-0 before they could pick up the bats. They answered quickly when they scored four runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead. Prestwood came around to score on an error, as did Prestwood. Skylar Kidd had the big hit in the inning when he cleared the bases with a two-run home run.
Dallas scored four runs over the next two innings to take a 6-4 lead. They held onto the lead until the fifth, when Troy evened the score off Kidd’s second two-run home run of the game.
Dallas had an answer of their own the next half inning when they scored three runs to regain the lead at 9-6.
Troy loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth and Cardwell smacked a double to drive in the first two runs of a five-run inning. Jefcoat followed up with a two-run double of his own and Dalton Stephens closed out the scoring with a single to score Jefcoat.
Troy allowed six runs during the first inning in game two against Jefferson Parrish and couldn’t recover.
Cardwell got the start in game two and pitched 1.2 innings after allowing seven runs, only three of which were earned on four hits and three walks. Braisted came in to relieve Cardwell with one out in the second inning and 1.1 innings and gave up one run on three hits. Noah Prestwood also made an appearance on the mound.
Troy finished with two hits by Braisted and Cardwell in the loss.
Following the six-run inning, Jefferson Parish added one run in the second, two runs in the third and their final run in the fifth.
Troy finished the tournament with a 2-2 record.
“It was a great summer,” Huner said. “I really enjoyed these kids. They are always fun to be around and they are competitors. I knew going in they were going to be a joy to coach.
“We didn’t end with a win so we didn’t quite reach our goals, but we got a lot of wins along the way. We are very proud to be Alabama state champions.