Tigers Notch Big Win
Over Tanner Rattlers

by Dwight Turner

Ardmore saved what was perhaps its best game of the 2006 baseball season for the right moment last Thursday. Limestone County's top team, the Tanner Rattlers, came calling for a makeup game with the Tigers and, when the dust finally settled, the Tigers scored an impressive 8-3 win.

Landon Taylor pitched well for the Tigers, keeping the Rattlers off-balance through most of the game. Senior Bryan McClendon came on in relief for Ardmore and closed out Tanner to seal the win for the Tigers.

Tanner took an early 1-0 lead, pushing across a run in the top of the first inning. Both teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning.

With one out in the Tiger fourth, Kyle Smith laced a single to ignite the Tiger rally. Senior Charlie Deffenbaugh then tripled, driving in Smith to knot the game at 1-1. Deffenbaugh later scored on a single by Matt Smith to put the Tigers up 2-1 with action heading into the fifth inning.

Taylor held the Rattlers scoreless in the top of the fifth, setting the stage for an Ardmore offensive explosion in the bottom of the stanza.

The Tigers rallied for five runs, utilizing solid hitting and opportunistic baserunning. Taylor drew a one-out walk and, two batters later, Eric Atchley singled. Kyle Smith also singled in the rally and Deffenbaugh launched a solid double, his second extra-base hit of the game. Jake Marlow followed Deffenbaugh's double with a two-bagger of his own and scored on yet another single by Matt Smith.

Ardmore held a 7-1 lead as the game moved into the sixth inning. The Tigers put up another run in the bottom of the sixth when pinch hitter Ryne Strong walked and advanced to second when Taylor was hit by a pitch. Strong later scored to put Ardmore up 8-1.

Tanner rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh but it was too little, too late.

Taylor picked up the pitching win for the Tigers. Greenhaw took the loss for the Rattlers. Kyle Smith had two singles for Ardmore, as did Matt Smith. Jake Marlow nailed a double and Deffenbaugh continued his clutch hitting with a double and a triple.

Tanner 3

1 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 10 3

Ardmore 8

0 0 0 2 5 1 x 8 8 0

WP _ Taylor; LP _ Greenhaw.

Homeruns _ none.