Opp seniors help in rivalry sweep

Published 12:00 am Saturday, April 16, 2011

Opp seniors shown in the top row from L to R: Drew Smith, Steadman Gerber, Jantzen Flowers and Tyler Harrison. Bottom row from L to R: Dilan Ziglar, Lance Robbins and Drew Wilson. | Andrew Garner/Star-News

Opp’s seniors claimed a four-year sweep over Andalusia Thursday night, where the Bobcats beat the Bulldogs 15-5, 11-10 in a doubleheader at Merchants Field.

Prior to Thursday’s doubleheader, the Bobcats needed two wins to accomplish the feat.

“It was good that they got to win their last two games at home,” OHS head baseball coach Michael Cassady said about the seniors.

Cassady started all seven seniors in the second game, and the Bobcats faced early adversity in the first inning when Andalusia went ahead 6-0.

Opp bounced back to score four runs in the bottom of the first inning, and added three runs each in the sixth and seventh innings for the win. Two of the three runs in the seventh were scored with two outs on the board.

“When we scored two runs with two outs in the seventh, that was huge,” Cassady said.

Opp improved to 23-10 overall, and Andalusia fell to 13-14.

Opp 11, Andalusia 10

After Andalusia scored its six runs in the first inning, the Bulldogs added three runs in the fourth inning and one in the fifth inning.

AHS head baseball coach Jonathan Rasberry said he wasn’t pleased with his team’s play.

“I wasn’t real happy with the way we played,” Rasberry said. “I thought we didn’t play with a lot of focus and intensity.

“With it being spring break, it’s hard to get them focused,” he said. “We didn’t come out there with the same intentsity and focus we had in the last week.”

Opp’s T.J. Bess got the win on the mound pitching one inning.

Drew Smith was 2-for-5; Trey Short was 2-for-4; T.J. Register was 3-for-5; Lance Robbins was 2-for-4; and Dilan Ziglar was 2-for-4.

Opp 15, Andalusia 5

Opp’s Dane Buckelew pitched a complete game in six innings and struck out two while giving up 12 hits.

Smith was 2-for-3; Thomas Weed was 2-for-4; Short was 2-for-4; Register was 3-for-3; and Russell Mosley was 2-for-3 for the Bobcats.

Andalusia’s Tyler Raines led the Bulldogs going 3-for-3 behind the plate.

Andalusia will play host to No. 1 in Class 2A Wicksburg, and Choctawhatchee, Fla., today in a doubleheader for its senior day. The first game will begin at 11 a.m. The senior day ceremony will precede the first game at approximately 10:45 a.m.

Opp will ends its 2011 season next Mon., April 18, on the road against Rehobeth in a doubleheader.