10 and Under All-Stars take second
J.R. Tidwell/FCT The Russellville 10 and Under All-Stars stand with their second-place trophy at Colbert Heights Tuesday night. The members of the team are (in no particular order): Jackson Lindsey, Rowe Gallagher, Canyon Pace, Eli Smith, Jacob Fleming, Luke Barnwell, Will Rogers, John David Bishop, Theran Pounders, Brant Bragwell, Cole Barnett and Brayden Bendall. Coaches are Jon Smith, Kurt Rogers and Brian Pace.
COLBERT HEIGHTS — The Russellville 10 and Under All-Stars took home the second-place trophy Tuesday night at the 2012 sub-district tournament hosted by Colbert Heights.
The Golden Tigers defeated the Cherokee Indians 20-4 in a three-inning game.
“We’re a young team,” Russellville head coach Jon Smith said. “Our older kids stepped up for us tonight. They were our leaders.”
Russellville wasted no time taking the lead, as the Golden Tigers scored 7 runs in the top of the first. Theran Pounders brought in three of those runs and Cole Barnett added two RBIs.
The Indians scored three runs in the bottom of the first, narrowing Russellville’s lead to 7-3. Fortunately for the Golden Tigers, Luke Barnwell went on a tear in the second inning.
He brought in a, insurance run in the top of the inning on a ground-rule double that went over the fence in left field. He took to the mound in the bottom of the inning and retired the side, striking out three straight batters.
“It felt good,” Barnwell said. “I was knocking them down.”
Any hope of a comeback for Cherokee was ended in the top of the third by Russellville’s bats. By the time Cherokee had finally procured the third out, the Golden Tigers had added 12 runs to their lead.
Canyon Pace started off the scoring in the top of the third by stealing home plate on a wild pitch. Another wild pitch soon thereafter allowed Pounders to tag home plate.
Barnett followed that by hitting a two-RBI double to right field. Will Rogers picked up an RBI single on an infield hit, and then Brayden Bendall almost cleared the bases with a three-RBI triple to center field.
Barnwell followed suit with an RBI single on an infield hit, and Rowe Gallagher roped one down the third base line for an RBI and a double.
Pounders ended the scoring in the top of the inning by bringing in two more runs with a single to right field.
The Indians picked up one more run in the bottom of the third, but it was too little too late, as the Golden Tigers picked up the 16-run win to take second place.
“We hit the ball well tonight,” Smith said. “We brought in Luke, and he shut them down in the second inning, and we started hitting the ball.”
The 10 and Under All-Stars will now move on to the district tournament.
