By Dustin Kent

Published: April 8, 2008

The Sneads Pirates picked up a key district victory Monday night in Sneads, topping Blountstown 12-2 in five innings.

Jake Roberts pitched a complete game to pick up the win for the Pirates, who moved to 3-4 in district play.

The Pirates are now a full game ahead of Blountstown for third place in the district standings, trailing only Altha (5-2) and first-place Bozeman (8-0).

“It was important for the district standings,” Sneads coach Mark Guerra said of the win. “Anytime you win a district game, it’s important. It wasn’t Bozeman or Altha, but you still have to be prepared for a game like that. I hope it sets our minds right.”

Blountstown got on the board first Monday night with a two-run home run off of Roberts in the top of the first inning.

However, Sneads answered with four runs of its own in the bottom of the inning and two more in the second for a 6-2 lead.

Meanwhile, the Tigers couldn’t put together much offense against Roberts the rest of the way.

“Jake Roberts pitched very good and basically controlled the whole game,” Guerra said. “It was our second error-free game, so the defense played very well behind him.
“But the key was his throwing strikes and getting ahead of hitters all night.”

Roberts surrendered no walks in five innings, while giving up just four hits and striking out seven Blountstown batters.

Sneads added six more runs in the fourth inning to allow for the five-inning win.
“Everybody in the lineup did well,” Guerra said of the team’s offensive output. “We moved runners over, got in hitter’s counts and executed well.”

Trevin Hall had a three-run homer for Sneads in the fourth inning.

Sneads next plays Cottondale Thursday at 6 p.m. in yet another district contest, then takes on North Hardin, Ken. Friday in Sneads at 3 p.m.