Tigers edge New Brockton, 13-9
Published 12:00 am Thursday, April 14, 2005
The Luverne Tigers spotted New Brockton a three-run lead but it was the Tigers holding off the Gamecocks at the end, 13-9 on Tuesday.
The victory upped Luverne's record to 7-5 and 3-1 in Class 3A, Area 3.
Josh Sexton went the distance on the mound, scattering 11 hits over seven innings to earn the win for the Tigers.
The Gamecocks opened the game with the 3-0 lead, but Luverne answered in its half of the first inning.
Jessie Dixon reached on a walk and Ryan Brown reached on a single. After Dixon scored on an error, Sexton ripped an RBI double and would score the leading run on an error soon after. A wild pitch by Gamecocks' pitcher Tanner Medley allowed Luverne to take a 5-3 lead heading into the second.
New Brockton powered its way back into the game.
Medley launched a one-run homer off
Sexton in the second and Heath Parker would add a homerun in the third to tie the game at 5-5.
The Tigers re-claimed the lead in the third 7-5 with two runs scoring. Chase Free knocked home Sexton on a single.
Sexton sat down three consecutive Gamecocks' batters allowing Luverne to build on its lead in the fourth. Dequaris Reed drove in a run and two runners scored on a Medley error when the New Brockton pitcher tried to pick off a runner at first.
Three hits in the fifth, though, had New Brockton on the verge pulling within striking distance of the Tigers. With one out recorded, the bases were loaded for the Gamecocks.
But the Tigers were able to turn a double play, rescuing Sexton on the mound.
Brown reached on a basehit and Reed added a double in the bottom of the fifth. Both runners would score on a fielder's error, giving the Tigers some insurance on the scoreboard, 12-5.
Down 13-9 in the top of the seventh, the bases were again loaded for New Brockton but Parker's long fly into centerfield was hauled in by Dixon near the wall.
The Tigers play at Elba today at 5 p.m.