Troy Dixie Boys fall to Opelika in state final
Published 6:48 pm Tuesday, July 17, 2018
- Messenger Photo/Dan Smith Troy Dixie Boys shortstop Jayden Jordan takes a throw for the first half of a double play against Opelika Tuesday in the state tournament in Enterprise.
The Troy Dixie Boys finished their season Tuesday morning when they fell to the Opelika Dixie Boys 11-2 in the State Tournament final in Enterprise.
Tuesday’s game was a rematch of Monday’s game in which Troy beat Opelika 3-1.
“Opelika is a good squad,” said head coach Chris Huner. “We knew a little about them from playing them yesterday (Monday) morning. The first couple of innings, it was a close game.
After the first three innings, there was a mandatory heat break. After the brief rest, Opelika’s offense came to life.
“You never know how those heat breaks are going to affect kids,” Huner said. “It may have been a good time to change pitchers, but hindsight is 20/20. Opelika is a good squad.”
On Tuesday, Troy’s bats fell silent. Despite their two runs, Troy was held hitless against Opelika.
“For whatever reason our bats got cold,” Huner said. “We had trouble getting men on base.”
Darryl Lee got the start for Troy. Lee pitched the game’s first four innings and allowed six runs, five of which were earned. He allowed just two hits, but walked six. JD Wilson came to relieve Lee, but after he allowed two runs, one of which was earned, he was taken out without registering an out. Brady Huner pitched two innings in the loss.
All of Opelika’s runs came in three consecutive innings. The game’s first runs came in the third when Opelika scored two runs to take the early lead. Troy answered with their only two runs in the top half of the fourth. Troy began their threat when the inning started with Jayden Jordan and Kase Chirico reaching first after being hit by a pitch. Following a Jeff Warrick flyout that advanced both runners up a base, Skylar Kidd grounded out to second to drive in Troy’s first run. Troy’s final run scored when Chirico touched home plate after a wild pitch.
“We came back in the top of fourth and got men on base and had some momentum,” Huner said. “We scored two runs to tie it up. We were back in the fight.”
Walks and errors played a factor in the next two innings. Troy walked three batters and hit another, which helped Opelika tally four runs in the fourth to take a 6-2 lead.
Three Troy errors and numerous wild pitches allowed Opelika to break the game wide open. They scored five runs in the frame to go up 11-2.
Despite the loss, Huner believes there are a lot of positives his team can look back on.
“I told the boys don’t focus on this last game,” Huner said. “It’s not indicative of our postseason run. We had a lot of good wins and good play. I told them to focus on the good plays and the good at-bats. They are young kids and the future is bright for a lot of those kids. They are still developing. We lost but we are leaving with positive thoughts.”
Tuesday’s game was a rematch of Monday’s game in which Troy beat Opelika 3-1.
“Opelika is a good squad,” said head coach Chris Huner. “We knew a little about them from playing them yesterday (Monday) morning. The first couple of innings, it was a close game.
After the first three innings, there was a mandatory heat break. After the brief rest, Opelika’s offense came to life.
“You never know how those heat breaks are going to affect kids,” Huner said. “It may have been a good time to change pitchers, but hindsight is 20/20. Opelika is a good squad.”
On Tuesday, Troy’s bats fell silent. Despite their two runs, Troy was held hitless against Opelika.
“For whatever reason our bats got cold,” Huner said. “We had trouble getting men on base.”
Darryl Lee got the start for Troy. Lee pitched the game’s first four innings and allowed six runs, five of which were earned. He allowed just two hits, but walked six. JD Wilson came to relieve Lee, but after he allowed two runs, one of which was earned, he was taken out without registering an out. Brady Huner pitched two innings in the loss.
All of Opelika’s runs came in three consecutive innings. The game’s first runs came in the third when Opelika scored two runs to take the early lead. Troy answered with their only two runs in the top half of the fourth. Troy began their threat when the inning started with Jayden Jordan and Kase Chirico reaching first after being hit by a pitch. Following a Jeff Warrick flyout that advanced both runners up a base, Skylar Kidd grounded out to second to drive in Troy’s first run. Troy’s final run scored when Chirico touched home plate after a wild pitch.
“We came back in the top of fourth and got men on base and had some momentum,” Huner said. “We scored two runs to tie it up. We were back in the fight.”
Walks and errors played a factor in the next two innings. Troy walked three batters and hit another, which helped Opelika tally four runs in the fourth to take a 6-2 lead.
Three Troy errors and numerous wild pitches allowed Opelika to break the game wide open. They scored five runs in the frame to go up 11-2.
Despite the loss, Huner believes there are a lot of positives his team can look back on.
“I told the boys don’t focus on this last game,” Huner said. “It’s not indicative of our postseason run. We had a lot of good wins and good play. I told them to focus on the good plays and the good at-bats. They are young kids and the future is bright for a lot of those kids. They are still developing. We lost but we are leaving with positive thoughts.”