MERE kicks off new season

By DUSTIN KENT AND SHELIA MADER
Published: April 12, 2008

The Tommy’s Glass Belles got a three-run fifth inning to take a 5-2 win over the Kiwanis Ponytails Saturday in an Opening-Day contest at the MERE.

Tommy’s Glass was scheduled to face Chattahoochee, which didn’t show up.

Instead, the Belles got a younger and game Kiwanis club that came ready to play.

Kiwanis starter Breanna Willis and Tommy’s Glass’ Jennifer Hewett staged a pitcher’s duel early, with Willis striking out four and Hewett striking out five in the first two scoreless innings.

But Tommy’s Glass broke through in the top of the third inning with a two-run single to center field by Maya Boykin to make it 2-0.

Hewett struck out the side for the second consecutive inning in the bottom of the third, but Kiwanis finally got on the board in the fourth when Willis helped herself out with an RBI single.

Willis later came home to score on a wild pitch to tie the game at 2-2.

However, Tommy’s Glass broke the game open in the fifth off of Kiwanis reliever Reagan Oliver, who allowed a single and a walk before Hewett scored on a wild pitch for a 3-2 lead.

Two more walks brought Patrea Clark to the plate and Boykin scored on another wild pitch to make it 5-2.

In the bottom of the fifth, Hewett struck out the first two batters she faced, then induced a ground ball out from Cheyenne Corbin to end the game.

Hewett struck out 12 batters on the game, while Willis struck out five.
——
Opening Day at Optimist Park took three games to declare its first winner in the Dixie Boys League. 

Game one pitted Rahal-Miller against Youngstown with the game ending in a 3-3 tie. 

Game two had the experienced Barnes Tire against the same Youngstown team with the game ending in a 4-4 tie. 

In the final game of the match, the expansion Zaxby’s gave the Grand Ridge Indians a run for their money with the Indians holding on to a narrow 4-3 victory.

Rahal-Miller sent Jae Elliott to the mound who threw three innings, giving up three runs on two hits, three walks and two errors. 

Elliott struck out three batters.

Bradly Middleton came on to close out the game in the fourth, retiring the side with two strikeouts and a pop up to the mound.

At the plate, Rahal-Miller was led by Clayte Rooks who was 1-for-1, followed by Zac Davis and Bradly Middleton who were both 1-for-2.

In the second game of the day, Barnes Tire sent Kaidd Golden to the mound.

Golden went the distance allowing four runs on five hits, including two home runs, and issued two walks.

Offensively for Barnes Tire, Chris Godwin was 2-for-3 with two RBI, followed by Ryan Hughes who was 2-for-3 and one RBI. 

Kyle Griffin was 1-for-2, followed by Ryan Riley who was 1-for-3.

In the third game, Zaxby’s sent Adam DeWitt to the mound who went three innings, giving up one run on one hits with three walks. 

Devin Ranew came on in the final two innings, giving up three runs on two hits, two walks and one error. 

Austin Lombardo started for Grand Ridge, going two innings before giving way to Patrick McClain who closed out the final three innings. 

Lombardo gave up one run on one it. 

McClain gave up two runs on one hit, three walks and a hit batsman. 

Offensively, for Zaxby’s, DeWitt was 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored, followed by Ranew who was issued two walks and scored one run. 

At the plate, Patrick McClain led the team with a triple, followed by singles to Michael Mader and Garrett Harris.

The regular season begins Monday at Optimist Park with Rahal Miller taking on Chipley (Spencer) at 5:30 p.m. Zaxby’s will host Chattahoochee on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. while Barnes travels to Chipley on Tuesday.