Regions beats Optimist in regular season opener

By SHELIA MADER

Published: April 15, 2008

Regular season action got underway at Optimist Park Monday night with three teams scheduled for action in Dixie Youth AAA and Dixie Boys.

The Dixie Boys game was a wash with their opponent not showing due to the cold weather. Rahal-Miller took advantage of the time and scrimmaged the expansion Zaxby’s.

In AAA action, Regions took a 6-2 victory over Optimist. Trent Charles picked up the win with Jake Daffin coming on in the last inning.

Regions pitchers combined to strikeout 14 batters in five innings.

Charles and Daffin allowed two hits, issued four walks and had one error committed behind them.

Offensively for Regions, Charles led the team, going 2-for-2 while Cade Bonds, Dustin York, Avery Evans, Daffin, and Quaid VanHuss each had a hit. 

Micheal Young drew a walk while Matthew Shouse took one for the team.

Optimist sent Josh Crosby to the mound who was relieved by Austin Torbett.

The pitching duo allowed the six runs on seven hits, one walk and one hit batsman.

For Optimist at the plate, Tanner McCoy was perfect on the bases with a hit and a walk while Torbett had a single.

Jared Hendrix was 2-for-2 on plate appearances reaching when he was hit by a pitch and again on a walk. Crosby drew a walk in the first inning and scored.

In the second game of the night in AAA ball, People’s First had their hands full with the expansion Zaxby’s.

People’s First sent Garrison Melzer to the mound, throwing all five innings of the game. Melzer allowed the three runs on two hits, six walks, and two hit batters.

In the first inning, Landon Tharpe got things started for Zaxby’s when he took advantage of a walk and moved to second with one out when Maxx Harrell drew a walk.

A double steal put runners at second and third with Tharpe stealing home on a passed ball for the first run of the game.

Zaxby’s sent Jack Craven to the mound for the first two innings before giving way to Maxx Harrell for the final three innings. Craven allowed one run on two singles, two walks and one hit batsman.

In relief, Harrell in his pitching debut allowed two runs on one hit, three walks, and one hit batter.

In the bottom of the inning, Seth Gilmore singled to right field with one out, but was left stranded when Craven retired the next two batters.

In the bottom of the second inning, Harrell robbed Kiley Bryan of a hit down the right field line for the first out of the inning. Tyler McAllister took one for the team and scored on a single by Steven Spence.

Spence’s speed bought him a stolen base at second and third but his luck ran out when he was tagged at home. Two walks put runners at first and third but a strikeout ended the inning.

With one out, Marquise Patterson took it on the chin for the Zaxby’s taking first when he was beamed by Melzer’s inside pitch. With one out, Landon Tharpe single to left field putting runners at first and third.

A walk loaded the bases but Patterson was out at the plate sliding head first into home. A strike out left runners on the bags.

People’s first plated two runs in the third inning. Seth Gilmore reached on an error at first to set the stage for Melzer’s two run home run. A two-out walk to

Bryan went for nil as they next batter was retired on strikes.

Zaxby’s moved to within one of People’s First in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Craven helped himself out with a single and stole his way home for the second run of the game.

Harrell retired the side in the bottom of the fourth inning.

In the fifth inning, with one out, Hunter Gilbert and Kaelen Smith both reached when they were hit by a pitch.

A walk to Austin Hunter loaded the bases. Gilbert made it pay when he stole home to tie the game.

In the bottom of the inning, it was Gilmore who got things started for People’s first when he took advantage of a shortstop error with two outs.

Melzer then launched one to center field but was robbed of a sure double by Logan Baxley, appearing in his first regular season baseball game.

Due to time restraints on school nights, the game was called in a 3-3 tie.

Games were scheduled to continue at Optimist Park Tuesday night.