Golden Eagles Win Eight In A Row
by Perry Lewter
The visiting Athens Golden Eagles won their eighth game in a row Saturday at Ardmore High School after picking up a pair of wins over the Tigers. The visitors won the opener 13-4 before eeking out an 8-7 win in the second game. On Friday the Tigers dropped a 10-7 decision to the Clements Colts.
Athens 8, Ardmore 7
The lead changed hands three times before Athens pushed across four runs in the top of the sixth to hang on for an 8-7 win over the Ardmore Tigers in the second game of a twinbill Saturday at the high school.
The winners sent nine batters to the plate in the sixth hammering out two singles and a home run. The Golden Eagles also drew a walk, had a hit batter and took advantage of an infield error.
Trailing 8-5, Ardmore produced a pair of runs in the bottom half of that inning. Matt Lannom drew a walk and Zach Mitchell hit a single. Lannom scored on Clay Wales’ sacrifice. Eric Atchley’s single drove in Mitchell.
Athens scored a pair of runs in the opening frame.
The Tigers got their first lead in the bottom of the third scoring four runs. J. J. Jones got life on an error, Mitchell hit a single and Will Lewis drew a walk. Jones scored on a fielder’s choice from Wales as Lewis was tagged out at second. Mitchell scored on Atchley’s single while Wales scored on Jake Marlow’s base hit. Atchley scored when Robert Battrum hit a single.
Athens scored a single run both in the fourth and fifth inning before their four run sixth.
Mitchell led the Tigers with three singles as Atchley hit a single and double and Batrum two singles. Hitting a single apiece for Ardmore were Lewis, Wales, Marlow and Mullins.
Justin Dolan went the distance for the Tigers.
Clay McDonald hit a homerun while Todd Pepper had three singles. Keith Chronister and Leon Graves each added two hits each and Zach Brock a double.
McDonald picked up the win.
Athens 13, Ardmore 4
The Ardmore Tigers led 4-3 before Athens pushed across three runs in the fourth and the sixth and then seven in the seventh in a 13-4 loss to the visitors on Saturday.
Clay Wales pitched the first five innings for the Tigers. He was relieved by David Keenum who was relieved by Clint Carroll.
Matthew Smith, Will Lewis, Zach Mitchell and Wales scored the Tiger runs.
In the second inning Smith hit a double and scored on Jarrod Mullins’ single.
In the third inning Lewis greeted a new Athens pitcher with a single. He scored on Eric Atchley’s base hit.
The Eagles took the lead in the fourth inning scoring three runs off of two singles and two Ardmore errors.
The Tigers regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth after Mitchell led off with a double. Mitchell scored on Wales’ double. Wales scored when Smith got life on an error,
In the sixth inning Athens scored three runs off of a single, a double and an infield error.
Athens scored seven runs in the seventh after sending 13 men to the plate. Leon Graves’ double accounted for three of those runs while Zach Brock’s single drove in two runs.
Mitchell, Wales and Matthew Smith each hit a double for Ardmore. Hitting a single apiece for the Tigers were Lewis, Atchley, Kyle Smith and Mullins.
Leon Graves hit two doubles as Todd Pepper hit a double and two singles. Zach Brock and Joseph Chambers each hit a single.
Brad Reasonover, Jake Nelson and Michael Turner each pitched for the winners.
Clements 10, Ardmore 7
The visiting Clements Colts scored seven runs in the top of the first enroute to a 10-7 win over the Ardmore Tigers Friday night.
Sean Bachelor, Josh Eaton and Clint Manry all pitched for the Colts. Clint Carroll, Josh Marlow and David Keenum worked on the hill for Ardmore.
Dakota Shaw’s double was the only extra base hit for the visitors while four other players hit singles in the opening frame.
Eric Atchley hit a double and scored on Jarrod Mullins’ single in the bottom of the second for Ardmore.
The Tigers scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth after Clay Wales hit a double and Atchley got life on an error. Wales stole home to score while Atchley crossed the plate on Matthew Smith’s base hit.
Shaw hit a single and scored on Chris Kelly’s base hit for Clements in the top of the fifth.
The Tigers scored twice in the bottom of the fifth. Zach Mitchell hit a single and Wales got life on an infield error. Mitchell scored with Wales at the plate. Wales scored on a passed ball.
The home team, Ardmore, pulled within two, 8-6, when Kyle Smith hit a single. He scored on a throwing error.
Shaw and Michael Moss scored a pair of runs for the Colts in the top of the seventh. Shaw hit into a fielder’s choice and Moss drew a walk. Both runners scored when Kelly got a base hit.
Atchley led the Tigers with a double and single while Matthew Smith hit a pair of singles.
Micthell, Wales, Ryne Strong, Mullins and Kyle Smith each had a base hit for Ardmore.
Josh Eaton had three singles for the winners while Shaw hit a single and double. Hitting a pair of singles each for the Colts were Kelly, Jesse Cobb and Moss.
The Tigers are idle until Friday when they face Tanner in the opening round of the Limestone Co. Varsity Baseball Tournament.