Philly All-Stars take D-4 title

By By Ryan Satcher/staff writer
July 10, 2004
The Philadelphia All-Stars slipped past West Lauderdale to take the Dixie Youth Minor League District Four Championship on Friday night.
Philly held off a late charge by West Lauderdale to win 7-5. Philly beat West Lauderdale 10-0 on Tuesday night in the tournament but had to battle much more on Friday to pick up the win.
Philly led 7-2 going into the final inning before West Lauderdale scored three runs and threatened to score more. Philly finally got the last out when Kip Fulton snagged a liner.
The win moves Philadelphia into the state tournament which will be played in Laurel next weekend.
West Lauderdale opened the game on Friday night with a run in the top of the first inning. Brett Daugherty walked and Lucas Leeper ripped a single to bring him in to make the score 1-0.
Philadelphia answered with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. All three runs came with two outs in the inning.
Lee Smith singled and Austin Smith reached when his grounder was bobbled. Ricky Thompson followed with an RBI single to tie the game.
Robert Greer ripped a single to bring in another run and an error on the play allowed the third run of the inning to score and give Philly a 3-1 lead.
Philadelphia added another run in the bottom of the third inning. Johnny Gregory single and Kip Fulton singled to give Philly runners in scoring position.
Philly came through with another clutch hit as Joel Whitney delivered a single to bring in a run to make the score 4-1.
A run in the fourth inning for Philly stretched the lead to 5-1. Austin Smith was hit by a pitch and scored on a fielder's choice by Austin Vowell.
West Lauderdale got its second run of the game in the fifth inning when Chase Stamper beat out an infield grounder to bring in Gunnar Catlett. The run cut the lead to 5-2.
Philadelphia stretched the lead back out in the bottom of the fifth inning with two runs. Hunter Hall was hit by a pitch and Jim Franklin singled. Both runners scored on a single by Gregory to make the score 7-2.
West Lauderdale made a charge in the top of the sixth inning but came up just short.
Kevin Henson singled and Gage Hagan walked. Jason Lashane brought in a run with an infield single to make the score 7-3.
With two outs in the inning, Caleb Carpenter hit a ground ball that was thrown away down the left field line to allow two runs to score to make the score 7-5.
Daugherty followed with a rip that went right at Kip Fulton for the final out of the game.