By Staff
The Brewer Patriots fell pray to the Bob Jones Patriots, the Hazel Green Trojans and the Austin Black Bears during last week's action because of the one-inning breakdowns that have plagued them all year.
Bob Jones 8, Brewer 4:
"It's not often you get a chance to beat the No. 1 6A team in the state," Coach Barry Kirby said after his Patriots took on top-ranked Bob Jones.
"We had a chance, but like a good team, they made the plays when we gave them the chance."
Bob Jones took a one-run lead in the bottom of the first inning, but Brewer managed to prevent any further scoring until the fourth inning.
Bob Jones managed to shake off their shackles for three runs in the fourth inning to take a 4-0 lead.
Brewer plated a run in the fifth inning to trim the Bob Jones lead to three, but the Madison County Patriots brought home three more runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 7-1 lead.
Brewer came up with their best offense of the game with a three-run sixth inning while limiting Bob Jones to only one run in response. At the top of the sixth the score was 7-4, with Brewer within striking distance.
Josh Hester got the win for Bob Jones with a complete-game. He struck out seven while giving up five hits.
Tony Drinkard took the loss for Brewer in four innings. He struck out six, while walking four and allowing only three hits. David Ellis worked two innings of relief.
Drinkard connected for a double and one single.
Jasen Albright and Lee Drinkard ripped RBI singles, while Samuel Mason got a base hit.
Hazel Green 4, Brewer 2:
One bad inning spoiled the party for the Patriots as the Trojans broke free for four runs in the fourth inning. Despite a two-run rally in the fifth inning, Brewer fell short.
Lee Drinkard took the loss in seven innings. He fanned five and walked two with four hits.
Tony Drinkard got the only extra-base hit for Brewer with a double. Lee Drinkard got two base hits and Jerome Haggard wrapped the Patriot hitting with a single.
Hazel Green's Dwight Gaught got the win in six innings with eight Ks. Matt Bentley got the save in two innings.
Austin 7, Brewer 4:
That one-inning curse struck again when the Patriots took on the Black Bears in a double-header at Bobby Maxwell Field in Florette.
Austin erupted for six runs in the second inning and the Patriots were never able to dig their way out of the hole.
"We played hard, but you don't overcome six run innings very often. Lee pitched his heart out; but then he has done that all year," Coach Kirby said.
The Patriots plated one run in response to the six-run barrage and came up with a three-run rally in the fourth, but couldn't get the offense going in the final three innings.
Austin capped the game with a run in the seventh.
Brandin Brenner got a pair of base hits, while Jared Widner and Craig Delgado added singles.
Lee Drinkard took the loss on the mound.
Austin 15, Brewer 3:
The third inning was not the charm for Brewer as Austin abused them for eight runs.
The Patriots looked as though they might rebound for the opening game loss as they took a three-run lead in the bottom of the first inning.
But the wheels fell off in the third and the Black Bears stole Brewer's jack with two runs in the fourth.
Five more Austin runs in the top of the fifth shortened the game when the Patriots could not muster a response.
David Ellis was saddled with the loss in three innings. Daniel Vinson provided three innings of relief.
Patriots putting a bat on the ball were Haggard with a pair of singles and Lee Drinkard, Brenner and Matt Carroll with one base hit each.
Martin Warren got the pitching win for Austin, while Will McDaniel led the Black Bears at the plate with three doubles.