Tigers Nip Colts In Thriller
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by Dwight Turner In a game featuring a little something for everyone including great pitching, clutch hitting, controversial umpiring calls and a coaching ejection, Tiger first baseman Kyle Smith delivered a two-out double to drive in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to give Ardmore a 4-3 win over the visiting Clements Colts. Smith's two-bagger was his second double of the game in action that took place at Ardmore High School last Thursday evening. Clements struck early, scoring two runs in the top of the first off Tiger starter Clay Wales. Titus Wright opened the game with a double and later scored on an error. Ryan Griffin reached on the error, took second on a passed ball and scored on a single by Blake Moore. Ardmore struck back in the bottom of the first, putting up three runs to take the lead. Landon Taylor, who went 3-for-3 with a sacrifice fly on |
 Ardmore's Eric Atchley (8) beats the throw to first on an infield hit during the Tigers' win over Clements. (photo by Bobby Malone) |
the night, led off with a sharp single up the middle. Will Lewis singled, sending Taylor to second. Eric Atchley, batting in the No. 3 hole, surprised everyone by laying down a bunt and beating it out to load the bases.
Slugger Charlie Deffenbaugh stepped into the batter's box. Colt starter Sean Bachelor gave Deffenbaugh a wide berth and ending up walking him, forcing in Taylor with the Tigers' first run.
With freshman standout Jake Marlow at the plate, Tiger Head Coach Lee Walker put on the squeeze play. Lewis broke from third and scored easily as Marlow laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to tie the game at 2-2. Kyle Smith then belted his first double of the game, scoring Deffenbaugh and putting the Tigers up 3-2.
Ardmore threatened in the second inning when Jarrod Mullins and Taylor both singled. The Tigers, however, were unable to push across a run.
Clements tied the game in the third on a double by Dakota Shaw and a single by Blake Moore. With the score knotted at 3-3, both pitchers bore down hard.
Ardmore threatened in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases on singles by Matthew Smith, Marlow and Taylor. With one out, Bachelor struck out the next batter and got the third out on a fly to left.
Wales gave up a single in the top of the fifth, but snuffed out any threat of a Colt rally with great location and change of speed on his pitches. All Clements could muster was three weak fly balls to the outfield.
Griffin came on to relieve Bachelor for the Colts in the bottom of the fifth and held the Tigers in check. Wales pitched well again in the sixth, holding the Colts scoreless. Deffenbaugh, playing centerfield, made a nice running catch to rob Clements' Chris Kelley of a hit.
With the score still knotted at 3-3, action moved into the top of the seventh inning. That's when things got interesting.
Clements' Josh Eaton led off the inning with a double. Two pitches later, the home plate umpire called a questionable balk on Wales and advanced Eaton to third base. Walker came out of the dugout to question the call. Walker and the umpire exchanged words and Walker returned to the dugout, but continued to talk to the umpire. The umpire ejected Walker from the game, at which point Walker returned to the field and stated, "Well, now I'm going to get my money's worth." After a heated argument, Walker was asked to leave the field.
Wales now faced a dilemma. Clements had the go-ahead run on third with no outs. The southpaw hurler, demonstrating great grit and poise under pressure, retired the Colts in order on two strikeouts and an infield popup.
Griffin struck out the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the seventh, then issued a walk to Marlow. With a count of two balls and two strikes, Kyle Smith then laced a line drive down the right field line for a double, scoring Marlow and giving the Tigers the win.
Wales pitched seven full innings, giving up only six hits and two earned runs. Griffin absorbed the loss for Clements.
Clements 3
2 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 6 1
Ardmore 4
3 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 13 3
WP _ Wales; LP _ Griffin.
