Marianna All Stars pick up district win

By SHELIA MADER
Floridan Correspondent
Published: June 16, 2008

The Marianna AAA All Stars picked up their first win in district competition Saturday night in Chipley with a 12-4 defeat of Holmes County.

In game one, veteran coach Stevie Charles went with Ethan Strickland on the mound for the first two innings before sending Hunter Eddins to the mound for the next two innings and closing out the final two of the game with Trent Charles.

In the top of the first inning, Garrison Melzer reached on an error and moved to third on a single by Austin Torbett. Jake Daffin picked up an RBI on a single that scored Melzer. Trent Charles took advantage of an error that also allowed two runs to score. With two outs, Charles stole home on a passed ball to make it a 4-0 game before the final batter ground out to first.

In the bottom of the inning, a two out single was all Strickland allowed before a ground out to short ended the inning with no runs crossing the plate for Holmes County.

Marianna went quietly in the top of the second inning with the side going down in order. Holmes County answered with one run in the bottom of the second on a walk, a single and a hit batsman to make it a 4-1 game.

Marianna added three runs in the third inning. Jared Hendrix got things started when he took one for the team and moved to third when Eddins reached on an error. Melzer doubled home two runs. With one out, Daffin singled home Melzer before the next two batters ended the inning with a line drive and a strikeout.

Eddins issued a walk and had one error committed behind him but no runs plated in the bottom of the fourth to keep it a 7-1 game.

The Marianna all-stars loaded the bases with walks to Matthew Shouse, Aaron Williams and Justin Crosby but three straight strikeouts ended the inning with the bags full. A two-out hit batsman was the only baserunner for the Holmes County All-stars in the bottom of the fourth.

Daffin had a lead off walk in the fifth inning for Marianna but with one out, Cade Bond hit into a fielder’s choice that got Daffin at second. Shouse took advantage of an error but was left stranded whent eh final batter ground out to first.

Holmes County plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. An error and three singles accounted for the runs.

Marianna countered with five runs sixth inning. With one out, Eddins drew a walk and scored on a single by Melzer. Torbett drew a walk to put runners on first and second before Daffin singled to plate a run. Charles took one for the team and with two outs, Shouse drew a walk. Maxx Harrell picked up an RBI when he reached on an error at short.

A flyout to short ended the inning but not before Marianna increased its lead to 12-4. In the bottom of the frame, Charles struck out the first batter before giving up a double.

A stirkeout followed with a walk sandwiched in between the final K of the game.

Marianna was scheduled to take on South Walton Monday night at 6 p.m. in Chipley. Cottondale AAA All-stars fell to South Walton on Saturday 7-2.