Dillon Kiwanis is still unbeaten in the Dixie Youth Majors State Tournament after rallying for three runs in the top of the sixth inning to top Summerville Park Field American, 7-4.
The Kiwanis All Stars pushed across three runs in the top of the first on consecutive singles by BoBo McKinnon, Tristian Brigman, and Jared Ivey and a two-out double by John Rourke, who started the game on the mound.
Park Field pitcher and lead-off batter Jacob Church jumped on the first pitch from Rourke for a single to start the bottom of the first, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by clean-up hitter Hayden Fowler. Park Field loaded the bases with two out and Rourke fielded a bunt and stepped on the plate to end the inning to end the scoring threat.
Church retired six of the next seven batters to end his three-inning stint on the mound and Caleb Schnee entered the game in relief. He managed to get Brigman to ground out to the first baseman, but Ivey, in his second time at the plate, hit Schnee’s second pitch over the right-centerfield fence to put Dillon up 4-1.
Jared Darmon took to the mound to start the Park Field fourth and gave up a lead-off single to Matthew Duncan, who went to second on a wild pitch. With one out, Camden Rossa singled to score Duncan and Michael Collins beat out a bunt down the third base line. Darmon settled down and got the next two batters on strikes to once again thwart a possible big scoring rally.
Trailing 4-2 going into the bottom of the fifth inning, Park loaded the bases on a single by Winston Grant and back to back walks. Jordan Loving promptly hit a 2-1 pitch from relief pitcher Noah Carter to right field to drive in two runs and tie the game. Carter struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
Dillon needing a rally of some sort, Barnes Causey beat out an infield hit with one out and four pitches later, Carter singled sharply to center. With Loving in relief in the sixth for Park Field, BoBo McKinnon went down swinging for the second out, but Brigman hit his first pitch over the left fielder’s head to score Causey and Carter. Ivey followed with a double to right for his third hit of the game to score Brigman.
A lead-off single and an error put runners on second and third for Park Field, but Carter forced Schnee to ground out for the second out and struck out Colin Grooms on nine pitches to notch the win.
Dillon was scheduled to play Conway at noon on Thursday.
