Enterprise squeezes out win
By By Jared Florreich / special to The Star
March 12, 2003
Day Two of the Clarkdale Tournament pitted Enterprise and Southeast Lauderdale in an early afternoon contest.
The early start didn't bother either team, as Enterprise escaped with a 3-2 victory.
Southeast, looking to rebound from a 5-1 loss Monday night, took the early lead. An RBI bunt single by Larry Fairchild made the score 1-0.
Enterprise came back in the bottom of the first, with a double from pitcher Adam Simpson. Anthony Rawson knocked him home on a RBI single to tie the game at one.
The game was a stalemate, until Enterprise came to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning.
With Adam Simpson on base with a single, Anthony Rawson rocked an RBI double for a 2-1 Enterprise lead.
But Enterprise made two costly errors in the seventh, allowing Southeast's Tyler Overby to score and knot the score at two.
In the bottom of the seventh, Southeast walked two Enterprise hitters to load the bases and set up the potential double play, with Enterprise leadoff hitter Corey Irby coming to the plate.
Irby blooped an RBI single down the third base line for the one-run victory.
Southeast Lauderdale fell to 2-5 on the year, and Enterprise improved to 4-2 with the victory.
In the second game of the day, host team Clarkdale took an 11-10 win over Bruce in a wild contest.
The first inning was a nightmare for Bruce starting pitcher Jaret Prestage.
The young hurler could not make it through the opening inning, walking four batters and throwing three wild pitches handing Clarkdale a 3-0 lead before recording an out.
Bruce brought in Devin Garner to replace Prestage, and he got three outs without any further damage.
Things didn't get much better for Bruce in the bottom of the second.
Blake Johnson and Brandon Mabry both crossed the plate for Clarkdale making the score 5-0 at the end of two innings.
Bruce finally cut into Clarkdale's lead in the third.
An RBI single by Jaret Prestage made the score 5-1.
Bruce continued to chip away at Clarkdale's lead in the fourth.
Joey Ferguson led off with a base hit single, and Bobby Kulvanish advanced him to third with a double.
A wild pitch by Clarkdale pitcher Justin Mosely scored Ferguson and advanced Kulvanish to third.
A bloop single by Justin Ferguson scored Kulvanish to cut Bruce's deficit to 5-3 entering the bottom of the fourth inning.
Clarkdale was not done scoring however.
The host team added a run in the fourth, and four in the fifth on RBI hits by Justin Mosely and Kevin McKissack.
Clarkdale was the beneficiary of another Bruce wild pitch, scoring Brandon Mosely, to take a 10-3 lead.
Both Clarkdale and Bruce scored runs in the sixth inning, with Clarkdale continuing to lead 11-4.
Clarkdale would need every bit of their seven run lead.
Bruce came storming back in the seventh.
A bases loaded double by Bobby Kulvanish made the score 11-6. Another double by Corey Ward made the score 11-8.
Clarkdale changed pitchers, bringing in Brandon Mabry.
Mabry shut down the Bruce rally, getting two quick strikeouts. But with two outs, Bruce continued to inch closer.
A base hit singles by Marshall Baily and Jaret Prestage made the score 11-10.
But Mosley got a deep fly out by Danyell Shaw to end the game, and Clarkdale improved to 4-6 on the year with the victory.
After the game, a relieved Clarkdale coach Steve Marlow was glad his team escaped with a victory, after a six-run seventh inning by Bruce.
"We just got snakebit in the seventh," said Mosely. "The momentum swung to Bruce and they deserve a lot of credit for not quitting. All things considered, we're fortunate to come out with a victory."
The Clarkdale Tournament continues today. Bruce and Southeast Lauderdale play at 4 p.m., and Clarkdale and Enterprise follow at 6 p.m.
