By Lonnie Turner
In one of the most exciting games of the 2013 season, the Dillon Meat Center Reds had a no-hitter thrown at them by the James Lockemy Justice Rangers, but thanks to some daring base running in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Reds took the regular season title 2-1.
After Malachi Bember was hit by a pitch to start the final inning, Jamarius Bethea reached base on an error and Barnes Causey was intentionally walked to load the bases to set up a force play at any base. Noah Henderson followed and was also hit by a pitch, driving in Bember with the tying run. Relief pitcher John Rourke got Collin Hamilton on strikes and caught Bethea in a run-down between home and third, but Bethea managed get out of the run-down to score the winning run.
The Rangers pushed a run across the plate in the top of the third inning when Cole Carroll led off the inning with a double and Jackson Stone walked with no outs. Noah Henderson, the Reds starter, settled down and struck out the next two batters, but an error on Cooper Schilsky’s ground ball allowed Carroll to score easily from third base. Carroll was the only hitter with multiple hits hitting a two-out single in the top of the third to load the bases. John Rourke’s hit to start the top of the sixth was the only other hit in the game.
Kolby Watts, the starting pitcher for the Rangers, allowed only two base runners through the first four innings, but the Ranger coaching staff called on John Rourke to pitch the final two innings of the scheduled six inning contest. The Reds loaded the bases on a walk and two errors in the top of the fifth, but failed to score when Hunter Pittman went down swinging.
The All Star team selection was completed following the game and the post season tournament for the Majors will begin on Friday, July 5, with McLeod Park of Florence hosting Dillon at 6:00 p.m. in Latta. Maple Park of Florence will host the Lake View All Stars at 7:00 p.m. and the Latta team will host Mullins at 8:00 p.m. The double elimination tournament will continue with three games on Saturday and Sunday, two on Monday, one on Tuesday, and an “if”-game on Wednesday if needed.
