Troy Dixie Minor Rookies fall just short of state title

Published 10:07 pm Thursday, July 10, 2014

The good fortunes of the Troy Dixie Minor Rookies came to an end Thursday afternoon in Muscle Shoals.

On Wednesday, everything that could go right for Troy, did. Troy won its game in dramatic fashion, and then watched Fairhope down Muscle Shoals to force a three-team playoff and then head coach Chris Huner drew the bye to the title game.

The good fortune continued in to the first two innings of Thursday’s title game, as Troy led Muscle Shoals 8-2.

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But Muscle Shoals would rally back for seven runs over the final five innings to win the state tournament with a 9-8 victory.

“Muscle Shoals just kept chipping away at it and took the lead,” Huner said. “We led early, but just couldn’t keep things going. My hat’s off to Muscle Shoals. They are a really good baseball team.”

Mario Davenport led Troy at the plate with a 2-for-3 day and a trio of RBIs. Brady Huner was 3-for-3 with one RBI. Austin Spivey and J.D. Wilson also drove in a pair of runs for Troy.

While Troy didn’t bring home the big trophy from Muscle Shoals this year, Huner is excited about what lays ahead.

“We talked to the guys after the tournament and reminded them how far they came in just the few days of practice we had together,” Huner said. “We told them to keep working and by the time next year gets here, they would be ready to win it all. The future of Troy baseball is as bright as it has ever been.”