| Yellowjackets outlast Lions to earn shot at district title |
By: Sara Reid — Special to the Weakley County Pres
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Posted: Thursday, May 7, 2009 3:31 pm
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The one and only — Teammates race to celebrate and hug Yellowjacket Jacob Johnson (facing) after he scored the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning of Greenfield's 1-0 victory over Dresden in the District 14-A Tournament Tuesday night.
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It took a marathon effort from both squads, but the Greenfield Yellowjackets put the winning run on the board in the bottom of the 10th inning and took a 1-0 win over the Dresden Lions to advance to the District 14-A championship game.
Scoring chances were few and far between in the lengthy contest. The teams split their regular season meetings with Greenfield taking a 7-3 win and the Lions coming out on top by a 3-1 margin in late March.
With the win, Greenfield has earned the right to play the Halls Tigers for the District 14-A title, with the first pitch scheduled for 5 on Thursday afternoon at Elam Stadium in Union City. In addition, the Jackets have earned a spot in the Region 7-A semifinals to be played Monday with the higher seed hosting.
The loss didn't end the Lions' season, but dropped Dresden into a losers bracket game vs. Halls on Wednesday night. Dresden stopped Halls 6-3 in a rain-shortened opening round tournament game on Friday in Humboldt.
With Dalton Potts on the mound for Greenfield and Gatlin Hatchel pitching for the Lions, each team recorded three hits and one hit, respectively, through three innings of play.
In the fourth inning, the Jackets were knocking on the door when Steven Johnson doubled and Ty Smithson singled to center field, but Jake Lasater grounded out and Tyler Jones popped out, and, though Steven Johnson appeared to have scored a run it was ruled that he left the base early. Smithson was tagged out at second prior to Johnson touching home plate.
The next scoring threat also came from the Jackets in the seventh. Matt Beaty took over pitching duties for Dresden and struck out Lasater and Tyler Jones. Potts singled to center field and Heath Crouse roped the ball down the right field line for a double to sent Potts to third. Cody Ricketts walked to load the bases, but Beaty struck out Daniel Ricketts to end the inning and bring on extras.
After a scoreless eighth, Greenfield threatened to end the game in the ninth. Potts led off the GHS at-bat with a triple and Heath Crouse walked.
Cody Ricketts stepped to the plate with two on and no outs and attempted a squeeze bunt. On the pitch, Potts raced down the third base line, and when Cody Ricketts’ bat didn’t make contact with the ball, Potts retreated back to third. Dresden catcher Eric Evans quickly threw to Lion third baseman Daniel Harris where Crouse, who was trying to advance to third from second, was caught in a rundown and tagged out. Dresden then put the tag on Potts, who had again strayed away from third, for an unusual double play. Cody Ricketts grounded out to end the inning and extend the game another frame.
In the top of the 10th inning, Potts, who went the distance on the mound for Greenfield, forced Dale Hutcherson to ground out and struck out Josh Bone and Hatchel.
In what would be Greenfield’s final at-bat and with rally caps making an appearance in the Jacket dugout, Jacob Johnson doubled down the right field line. Steven Johnson then drew a walk before Smithson recorded a base hit to drive in Jacob Johnson and give Greenfield the thrilling 1-0 win.
At the plate for Greenfield, Steven Johnson was 2-for-3 and Smithson was 2-for-5 with the game's lone RBI. For Dresden, Beaty continued his steady work with a bat going 3-for-3.
On the mound, Potts got the victory, scattering six hits over the 10 innings of work. Beaty was the tough luck loser.
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