Grand Ridge boys win 2

By SHELIA MADER
Published: April 23, 2008

One day after Chattahoochee exploded offensively in Marianna, they were held to nine runs in two games against Grand Ridge Dixie Boys Tuesday night in Grand Ridge.

In game one, Grand Ridge sent Wayne Driggers to the mound who went 3 1/3 innings before being relieved by southpaw Michael Mader who closed out the game. Lombardo gave up four runs on four walks, one hit and two errors. Mader gave up one run on two hits. Grand Ridge took the first game 8-5 with the second game a 6-4 victory.

Chattahoochee scored one in the first and was held off the board until the fourth inning when they added their final four runs. Chattahoochee was retired in order in the fifth and final inning.

Grand Ridge plated three runs in the first inning. With one out, Patrick McClain singled and scored on a double by Mader. A single by Green put runners on the corners for Austin Branch’s single. Consecutive groundouts to short ended the inning with two runners left stranded.

In the bottom of the second inning, Grand Ridge added four runs on three hits and two errors. Brandon Moats started things off with a single followed by a single by Lombardo. Lombardo was out at second when Garrett Harris hit into a fielder’s choice. McClain singled home Moats and Mader doubled home Harris and McClain. With two outs, Branch and Rontravious Brown took advantage of bobbled balls at short but a fly out to the catcher ended the inning with no further runs crossing the plate.

Grand Ridge was retired in order in the bottom of the third inning.

Grand Ridge plated two insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Mader singled and scored on a passed ball. With two outs, Branch, Brown and Wayne Driggers loaded the bases with walks. Branch scored on a passed ball before the final batter went down on strikes.

In game two, Austin Lombardo took the mound for the Indians, going 3 1/3 innings before giving way to Patrick McClain who closed out the final 1 2/3 innings. The Indian pitchers combined to allow four runs on three hits, three walks and had three errors committed behind them.

Chattahoochee was held scoreless through three innings before three runs scored in the fourth. The final run scored in the fifth inning.

Grand Ridge struck in the first inning with three runs off of no hits, two errors and one walk. Harris led off with a walk and moved to third when McClain reached on an error at short. With one out, Aaron Green picked up an RBI when he beat out a throw from second on an infield hit. McClain and Green scored on passed balls before the inning ended on a ground out and a strikeout. Grand Ridge was three up and three down in the bottom of the second inning. Grand Ridge posted two runs in the third inning. Harris beat out a throw from third and moved to second on the errant throw. McClain walked to put runners on the corners. A single by Mader scored one and a walk to Green loaded the bases. Branch sent a grounder to first that scored McClain. Following a strikeout, Mader was out trying to steal home.

The Indians scored their final run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Moats led off with a walk and Chris Helms took one on the chin for the Indians to put runners on first and second. Brown singled to load the bases. With one out, McClain reached on an error at second scoring the run. The inning ended on a line drive by Mader that doubled up Brown.

The Indians will travel to Marianna on Thursday to take on Barnes Tire at 7 p.m.

While the Grand Ridge big boys were hosting Chattahoochee, the Dixie Youth AAA Apache Indians traveled to Chattahoochee to pick up a 28-10 victory.
Austin Lombardo got the start for Grand Ridge and picked up the win. Garrett Moody and Johnathan Campbell came on to close out the game.

Offensively Grand Ridge plated five runs in the first inning, with 14 runs crossing the plate in the second. The Indians added nine runs in the third and final inning of play. Chattahoochee scored three in the first, added four in the second and three in the final inning.

Grand Ridge was led by Cade Chatwood with two hits and one walk, followed by Garrett Moody, Lombardo, Dustin Shaw, and Bill Gentry all with one hit and one walk. Cade Hewett had four walks with Johnathan Campbell, Seth Harrell and Steven Mantecon reaching on three walks each. Mason Jackson had one walk and reached when he was hit by a pitch. Johnathan Hayes drew one walk.

The Dixie Youth AAA Apache Indians will return to action on Thursday when they host People’s First from Marianna. Game time is 5:30 p.m.