1A State Semi Finals New Home v Slocum

Game 2

A bunch of cotton tops from New Home would line up down the first base line for their match up versus Slocum.  Even Coach Brady Webb had bleached his head for the Leopards trip to the State Tournament.  Although they got a runner to second with one out, the Leopards wouldn’t score in their half of the first.  Slocum would get the leadoff batter on but couldn’t score.  New Home would follow suite in the top of the second.

A triplet of singles would load the bases for Slocum in the bottom of the second.  Andrew Aberanthy would hit into a fielder’s choice and score Colton Peters.  At the end of 2, it was Slocum up 1-0.  Slocum would score 2 more in the top of the 3^rd after a single-walk-single-E5.

New Home would start its scoring in the top of 4 after a leadoff single and a fielder’s choice that allowed Keagan Grantham to score.  At the end of 4, it would be Slocum up 3-1.  The top of 5 was a big inning for New Home as they would score 3 runs on a single – walk – single – single.  This would change the game, but not the momentum necessarily.  The Lions didn’t answer in the bottom half of the 5th, but New Home didn’t tack on anymore in the top of 6 either.

As we headed to the bottom of the 6^th, New Home would get 2 quick outs, but then allowed Slocum to load the bases.  On an Austin Sarraf shot up the middle, Center Fielder Blake Buckelew would misplay a hop and the ball would roll to the 400 foot mark.  Everyone would score and New Home would end the 6^th down 4-7.

New Home needed a big Top of 7 to keep their hopes alive and they got it thanks to a couple of walks, a couple of wild pitches and a ground rule double by Keagan Grantham.  Slocum would get two on base in the bottom of the 7^th but what appeared to be a routine ground ball for the third out ended up as an error and the winning run would score from second.

Slocum advances to face Fayetteville in the State 1A Finals Thursday at 9AM.

WP –  Austin Sarraf

LP – Bode Stewart

Player of the Game:  Austin Sarraf