Andalusia returns from state

Published 12:00 am Monday, July 14, 2003

Two games resulted in two losses for the 13-year-old Andalusia Babe Ruth All-Stars at the state tournament in Rainbow City.

Andalusia fell to Etowah County in the first game by a final score of 8-6. Westside topped Andalusia 12-3 in a loser's bracket game to eliminate the Andalusia All-Stars.

Andalusia went on top 2-0 in the first inning against Etowah County on Friday when Nick Cooper and Brannon Bryan both scored. Cooper reached base on a walk and Bryan was hit by a pitch. Jeffery Etheridge and Taylor Culbreth had RBI-hits in the inning.

Andalusia stretched its lead to 4-0 in the top of the third inning when Cooper reached base on a single and came around to score. He was awarded home plate on a balk. Etheridge also scored in the inning after reaching base on a single. James Hogg knocked Etheridge in with an RBI-double.

Joe Kyser scored in the fourth inning for Andalusia for a 5-1 lead. He reached base on an error and moved into scoring position when Tom Wright got down a bunt. He moved to third on Ryan Godwin's groundout and scored on a balk.

Etowah County answered with six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning for a 7-5 lead.

Taylor Culbreth scored in the top of the seventh inning for Andalusia, but it was not enough as Etowah County held on for an 8-6 win.

Westside out of Mobile topped Andalusia 8-3. Andalusia runs came from Cooper, Kyser and Wright. Hogg had an RBI-single in the game.

The members of the 13-year-old Andalusia Babe Ruth All-Stars are Nathan Shirey, Ryan Godwin, Tom Wright, Brannon Bryan, David Dove, Justin Ainsworth, Taylor Culbreth, James Hogg, Jeffery Etheridge, Nick Cooper, Taylor Wrench and Joe Kyser. The team was coached by Coach David Jones, Manager Rodney Culbreth and Coach Michael Shirey.