PLAYING AGAINST THE BEST: County All-Stars fall in elimination game
Published 12:05 am Tuesday, July 24, 2018
The Covington County 13-15 Babe Ruth All-Stars put up a strong fight, but fell 12-8 to Crossett, Ark., in Saturday’s first elimination game in the 2018 Babe Ruth Southwest Regional Tournament in Straughn.
In the top of the first inning, Jack Rice was hit by the second pitch of the game and then back-to-back walks to Kason Brooks and and Zeke Hopper loaded up the bases for Crossett with no outs.
Covington County starting pitcher Mason Turner then struck out Chase Golden for the first out of the inning.
Crossett then took a 3-0 lead when Brock Wright cleared the bases with a double to right field.
After another walk, Crossett got a double from Dawson Moore to go up 4-0.
Turner then got a pop up to Bryant Harper and a pop up to Braxton Lee to end the frame.
In the bottom of the first inning, Harper singled with two outs and then moved to second when Judd Fuqua drew a walk.
The Covington County All-Stars were unable to get a run across in the bottom of the first inning.
Turner got the first batter to pop out to shortstop, but then an error and a single got Crossett in scoring position.
Crossett then scored a pair of runs off of a pair of errors to go on top 6-0.
In the bottom of the second inning, Cal Ashberry singled with one out and then moved to second with a single from Jake Jeter.
The Covington County All-Stars then loaded the bases when Joshua Hawkins reached off of an error.
Lee followed with a single to center field that allowed Ashberry to score.
Jared Hawkins then drove in a Jeter with a single to right field.
Jo. Hawkins then scored on off of a passed ball.
Harper drew a walk to load the bases and then Fuqua walked to cut the Crossett lead to 6-4.
Covington County then tied the contest when Turner drove in a pair of runs with a single.
In the top of the third inning, Turner kept the game tied with a strong inning on the mound.
Turner got the first batter to ground out before giving up a five-pitch walk to Mason Taunton.
Turner got the next two batters to ground out to end the frame.
In the bottom of the third inning, Alex Cooper got the frame started with a single to center field.
Cooper moved around to second when Ashberry ripped a single to left field.
Crossett was able to avoid giving up any runs when they got a double play and a ground out to end the threat.
Crossett got things started with a hit batter in the top of the fourth inning and then an error gave them a pair of runners.
The Covington County All-Stars then got a ground out for the first out of the inning.
Crossett’s Cooper Williams then drew a walk to load up the bases with one out.
Crossett took the lead back with a single and walk that put them on top 8-6 before Parker Spears struck out Taunton to end the frame.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Spears reached off of a two-out error.
Spears then moved around to second when Harper reached off of an error.
Fuqua followed with a scorching double to left field that allowed Spears and Harper to score to tie the game.
Crossett started off the top of the fifth inning with a pop out to Harper at shortstop.
Brooks followed with a single to left field, but was thrown out at second when the next batter grounded into a fielder’s choice.
The Crossett runner stole second, but then he tried to still third where Fuqua threw him out for the final out of the inning.
Covington County got a one-out double from Ashberry in the bottom of the fifth inning, but a double play then ended the inning for the Covington County All-Stars.
Golden got Crossett going with a single to left field to start the top of the sixth inning.
Spears then got a ground out and a strike out, but Golden was able to move to third with two outs in the inning.
Spears got the next batter to strikeout for the third out of the inning, but it was a wild pitch that allowed the batter to safely reach first and Golden came around to score to give Crossett a 9-8 lead.
The next Crossett batter grounded out to Turner for the final out of the inning.
Jo. Hawkins reached off of an error to start the bottom of the sixth inning and then moved to second when the Crossett pitcher balked.
Jo. Hawkins moved to third when he tagged up on a sacrifice fly from Lee.
Jo. Hawkins attempted to score on a hit from Ja. Hakwins, but was thrown out at the plate for the second out of the inning.
In the top of the seventh inning, Crossett to advantage of four walks to go up 10-8 with one out in the inning.
Crossett then got a run off of an error and then another run on a sacrifice fly to go up 12-8.
Covington County got a pair of two-out singles from Turner and Cooper, but were unable to bring them around to score.
Crossett was eliminated one game later after falling to Sylacauga 3-0.