Eight-run rally gives Bulldogs win over Scott Co.

[7/24/04]Michael Whitley made ammends for a struggling day at the plate Friday with the biggest hit of the game.

Whitley’s two-RBI double highlighted an eight-run fourthinning as the Vicksburg Bulldogs, a 9-10-year-olds’ team made up of Vicksburg and Culkin players, defeated Scott County, 9-6.

Whitley, who had fouled out in his previous two at-bats, connected with a looper to right field to erase a 6-5 deficit and give the Bulldogs a 7-6 lead.

“I didn’t hit all game and I was just trying to get it down somewhere,” Whitney said. “I knew when we started hitting we could beat anybody.”

With a 7-6 lead and time running out, Zach Boyd hit a two-out, two-RBI single to give the Bulldogs a 9-6 advantage. Scott County pitcher Luke Reynolds struck out Kade Oldenberg, but the time limit had run out giving the victory to the Bulldogs.

Boyd led Vicksburg with two singles and a double, and every Vicksburg batter except one scored a run.

Scott County used slick baserunning early to take a 3-1 lead after the second inning. This was the first game Vicksburg played where baserunners could lead and steal, and the effects could be seen clearly.

Scott County stole nine bases, including a straight steal of home plate by Reynolds, to build the lead.

“It affected us a lot,” said Vicksburg coach Perry Boyd. “Maybe this will be a big help to us.”

Nathan Pugh, Reynolds and Benton Harris each doubled to pace Scott County, and Josh Simpson had an RBI.

Ethan Watking allowed six runs in 1/3 of an inning to take the loss, while Whitley earned the victory with an inning of relief.

The Bulldogs are scheduled to play the Clinton All-Stars today at 9 a.m. Scott County will play West Lauderdale at 1 p.m.

“This should give us a boost going into tomorrow,” Whitley said. “That win pumped us up.”

Bulldogs out of championship round

[7/25/04]A defensive meltdown ended the Vicksburg Bulldogs’ run at the Governor’s Cup on Saturday.

The Bulldogs committed 10 errors including six in the fourth inning and two in the top of the sixth and tied the West Lauderdale All-Stars 6-6 in the 9-10-year-olds’ division.

The tie, combined with an earlier loss to Clinton and Scott County’s win over Greenville later Saturday, kept Vicksburg out of today’s championship round.

“It’s pretty rough on us, because we hadn’t played a whole lot and we were looking to go on,” Vicksburg coach John Oldenburg said. “If we had won this one, I think we would have been in tomorrow.”

Both teams struggled mightily in the field. West Lauderdale, which was playing its third game of the day, committed three errors and allowed three unearned runs. Whenever Vicksburg made an error, however, another one quickly followed.

The Bulldogs twice committed two errors on one play, and they made three errors on base hits. All of the miscues helped West Lauderdale take a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning.

Vicksburg battled back, and regained the lead with a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth.

Cole Trim and Samuel Starnes started things off with a pair of walks, and Kyle Frazier followed with an RBI single to cut it to 4-3. Chandler Bounds then delivered a single just inside the first base bag to bring in two more runs and give Vicksburg a 5-4 lead. The Bulldogs added an insurance run in the fifth inning before their defense faltered again.

West Lauderdale’s Gunner Catlett led off with a walk, stole second and scored on a one-out RBI single by Kevin Lee Hensen. Chase Stamper followed with a pop up, but it was dropped and Stamper ended up at second.

Garrett Hagen then hit a grounder to first to bring in Hensen with the tying run. The throw back to pitcher Michael Whittley was dropped, and Stamper tried to score from third. He was tagged out as he slid into home for the final out of the inning, keeping the score tied at 6.

Vicksburg went down in order in the bottom of the sixth to end the game. Ties during pool play games are not played out under tournament rules.

Clinton All-Stars 25, Bulldogs 6 – The Bulldogs couldn’t keep up with Clinton’s relentless barrage of offense, having just a few scattered hits in the three-inning game.

Chandler Bounds and Michael Mason scored in the first inning, and Talbot Buys had an RBI groundout.

Blake Hughey had Vicksburg’s only run in the second, and he had an RBI double in the third as Bounds, Michael Whittley, and Zach Boyd scored the Bulldogs’ final runs before the mercy rule took effect.