The Rebels got on the board first scoring two runs on two hits, and a hit by pitch. The Pirates could not get anything going in the early going of the game, striking six times in the first three innings of the game.
The Rebels added one run in the bottom of the second to stretch the lead to 3-0. The Pirates finally got something going in the to half of the fourth when Byron Buxton was hit by a pitch, and Kyle Miller delivered a two-run homerun to left, his third of the season. The Pirates scored another run on a single to right by Jeremy Ammons. The game was tied going to the bottom half of the inning. The Rebels would quickly add insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth scoring four more runs on two hits and an error.
The Pirates added a run in the seventh but left the runners on when the final out was made. Final score was 8-4 in favor of Berrien County. The highlights from the game were the homerun by Miller and Byron Buxton’s stellar defensive performance. He gunned down two runners at the plate from his center-field position.
Pirates Lose Hard Fought Game Against Toombs County
When the Toombs County Bulldogs arrived at Pirate Field on Friday night everyone was expecting a good game. Many said it should be a low scoring, hard fought game. Hard Fought-Yes, Low scoring-No. Final score was 13-12 in extra innings.
The Bulldogs would scratch for two runs in the top half of the first on three hits. The Pirates would answer that with three runs in the bottom half of the first inning. Josh Barber hit a high fly ball in to right field. The right-fielder was blinded by the sun and Barber wound up at third with a triple. Gage Patton followed with a ground out to second base to drive home Barber. Byron Buxton singled, followed by an infield hit by Tyler Avera. Kyle Miller was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kyle Fennell hit a line drive to the second baseman that was too hot to handle and Fennell was safe at first. Jeremy Ammons rounded out the scoring with a ground out. The Pirates lead after one 3-2.
The Bulldogs tied it up in the second with one run on three hits. The Pirates took the lead again in the bottom of the second with two more runs. Justin Javis walked to lead off the inning, Josh Barber hit another deep fly ball to right field that was again lost in the sun for his second triple of the day driving home Javis.
The teams traded leads back and forth until the bottom of the sixth when the Pirates took a 12-10 lead on a solo homerun by Byron Buxton. The Bulldogs scored two runs in the top half of seventh to tie the game. The Pirates were unable to score the winning run in the bottom half, leaving the bases loaded sending the game to extra innings. In the top half of the eighth, Toombs scratched for the eventual winning run without the benefit of a hit. The Pirates went three up and three down in the eighth. Final score Toombs 13 Appling 12 in eight innings.
The Pirates contest against Brantley County on Tuesday, March 29 was rescheduled to April 25, 2011 due to Graduation Testing at ACHS. The Pirates will travel to Vidalia on March 31 with the games scheduled to begin at 5:45 p.m.
For more information about the Appling County Pirates Baseball Team please visit
www.applingpiratesbaseball.com.