Perry Junior League 10 & under All-Stars began Dixie Youth Baseball District 3 play June 22 at Warner Robins National League Park. This year’s age group includes two teams, Perry Maroon and Perry White.
Perry White opened the tournament with a loss to Jones County 5-2. Perry Maroon faced little opposition as it defeated Lamar County in a three-inning contest with pitchers Cooper Maddox and Jamey McDaniel combining to allow two runs and three hits. They recorded six strikeouts.
Day 2 featured Perry White facing off against Warner Robins in an elimination contest. Perry White battled from behind late in the game to tie the game in the top of the fifth 10-10. Perry White’s defense held Warner Robins from retaking the lead in the bottom of the frame and then exploded in the top of the seventh for seven runs. The defense sealed the win in the bottom of the sixth retiring the Warner Robins’ batters in order. Justin “Taco” Stafford pitched in relief for the win.
Perry Maroon, playing in the nightcap against Taylor County, had to go the distance this time to win 9-4. Bailey Woods was on the mound to start the game and completed three innings of work. He left with the score knotted at 4-4 registering four strikeouts, four hits and four walks.
Cooper Maddox came in relief of Woods and the game remained tied until Perry Maroon took the lead in a bizarre turn of events.
Ali Rae Dykes started the inning off being hit by a pitch and the second batter, Caid Heath, drew a walk. Taylor got the first out on a strikeout, and the following batter, Woods, was hit by pitch to load the bases. Taylor changed pitchers and managed to strikeout the next batter for out No. 2. Maddox, who doubled earlier in the game with a smash over the left fielder, was hit by a pitch, scoring Dykes from third to make it a 5-4 game.
Matthew Payne went to the plate looking to clear the bases, but after a wild pitch, overthrow to third and subsequent wild throw into the dugout, Perry Maroon cleared the bases and took an 8-4 advantage.
Perry’s defense sparkled in the bottom of the frame retiring the first three batters with two groundouts to short and a strikeout.
Perry got an insurance run in the top of the sixth with a walk to Tyler Newhouse. He moved into scoring position at second on a steal, and scored on a line drive single to right field by Jeb Walls for the final run.
Day 3 pitted Perry White against Taylor County in another elimination round. Perry jumped ahead 1-0 after one. The game remained close through four innings until Taylor’s offense started clicking. Taylor went on to eliminate Perry White with a final score of 11-1.
Perry Maroon, again with the late draw, faced up against West Macon in the battle of the two unbeaten teams. West Macon, earlier in the tournament, beat Warner Robins National 20-3 and Jones 11-5. Perry started Jamey McDaniel on the mound for the first inning, and then manager Art Maddox made a pitching change putting the rest of the game in the hands of Payne.
Perry’s scoring began in the second with Stephen Luke on second base. Dykes smashed a double to deep center scoring Luke, and Newhouse’s sacrifice grounder to first base scored Dykes to tie the game 2-2. The game remained tied until the fourth, when Perry’s offense erupted for four runs. The inning was highlighted by Luke’s towering fly ball to deep right field that scored two runs.
West Macon never backed down, and in the bottom of the frame it put on a hitting clinic starting the inning with two singles and two triples. When the dust settled, the game was tied again 6-6.
Perry took the lead for good in the fifth inning after a walk to Brandon Rich, sacrifice by Woods and a single by Patrick Wilson, who later scored from third on a passed ball.
Perry held in the bottom of the fifth and put up another insurance run in the top of the sixth on a double to right by Newhouse, who proceeded to steal third and then score on a passed ball.
Payne faced the top of West Macon’s potent lineup and after giving up two singles and a run proceeded to strike out the next three batters for the win 9-7.
In other notable stats, Payne ended the evening with a total of 12 strikeouts. Perry catcher Brandon Rich threw out five of seven runners on steal attempts to second base.
HHJ News
