Gens rally to win 8-7 in playoffs
By By Robbie Robertson / EMG sports writer
April 21, 2004
DECATUR In his first year as baseball coach at Newton County Academy, Allen Wilson has had the benefit of plenty of junior and senior experience.
But on Tuesday, it was a freshman that led the way.
Freshman Ben Thames hit two doubles, including the game winner that drove in two, as the Generals overcame a five-run deficit to beat University Christian 8-7 in the first round of the MPSA Class A state
playoffs.
The Generals improve to 19-5 on the season and will travel to University Christian on Thursday to finish out the series. The opening game is slated for 4 p.m. with an if-necessary game to follow at 7 p.m.
in the best-of-three series.
"These guys haven't given up on me all year and they didn't today," Wilson said. "I didn't expect them to give up in that last inning. That's just the kind of kids we have on this team."
The Generals led most of the contest after going up 2-0 in the first inning as seniors Morgan Craven and John Shellenback drove in runs.
Meanwhile, starter Blake Hedrick was handling the UCS hitters, allowing only one run in the first five innings.
But the Flames touched up Hedrick for three runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh to take a 7-2 advantage into the bottom of the seventh.
In that seventh, Ben Thames led off the inning with a double to right center field.
"That was a huge hit to start the inning," Wilson said. "You always want to get the first guy on. Then the next guy walks and you've got two on and the top of your lineup is at the plate."
After Ben Thames doubled, Daniel Grimes and Sam Thames walked to load
the bases. Then junior shortstop Lee Blackburn singled to score two and make the score 7-4. A fielder's choice by Hedrick put runners at first and third with one out. Then Craven ripped a single to left to score
Sam Thames and make the score 7-5.
Shellenback followed with another fielder's choice that put runners on first and third again. Then the Generals got the break they needed as Tommy Harthcock reached on an error by the Flames' third basemen to score Hedrick and make the score 7-6.
Jason Tune then walked to load the bases and bring the younger Thames
back to the plate.
The freshman didn't flinch as he lined a double to center field to score Harthcock and Shellenback for the win.
"That is such a huge hit for a freshman," Wilson said. "But this is a kid that has played baseball his whole life. He's used to being in situations like that."
Ben Thames led the Generals with his two doubles and the two RBIs while his older brother Sam had four walks and scored two runs. The older Thames also picked up the win on the mound in relief of Hedrick, who was 2-for-4 and scored two runs at the plate.
