Astros edge Marlins for first win of year
The Dairy Queen Astros pulled off a narrow upset, while the Tennessee Auto Rangers rolled into the winners’ bracket semifinals in 9-10 Cal Ripken tournament play Monday night.
The Astros, who went winless throughout the regular season and fell in their first round game, finally tasted victory, as they edged the Sony Salon Marlins by a 7-6 final.
The win kept the Astros alive in the tournament, and they were scheduled to face the Cohutta Water Reds Tuesday night.
Micah Welch got things going for Dairy Queen in the first inning, driving in Dakota Myers and Nick Cantrell with a two-out single to left. Lane Steakley later scored on an error, giving the Astros an early 3-0 lead.
The Marlins took advantage of an error and five straight walks in the bottom of the frame, however, batting around to go on top 4-0.
Logan Hill and Dakota Myers both scored for the Astros in the top of the second, however, giving them back the lead until the bottom of the third, when Garrett Walker and Jacob Roller crossed the plate on a Levi Felton double which gave the Marlins a 6-5 advantage.
Hill doubled to start the Astro fifth, and Myers singled with one out, allowing Dillon Tubb to plate the tying and winning runs with his double to left field.
Myers, who had come on to pitch in relief of Dillon Tubb in the fourth, retired the Marlins without a run in the fifth inning to preserve the win.
Myers, Tubb, Cantrell and Welch all had hits for the Astros, while Hill went 2-for-3.
The Marlins’ only official hit was Felton’s two-run double, although they took advantage of two errors and 11 walks.
Dillon Barnes and Logan Underhill were one error away from a combined perfect game, as they fanned eight Indian batters and faced just one over the minimum over the quick three-inning game.
Leading 3-0 after one inning, the Rangers poured it on in the second, scoring eight more runs, and added nine in the third to end the game via the mercy rule.
Underhill finished 3-for-4, scoring three times and driving in a run, while Barnes and Bryce Caten were both 2-for-3. The team’s other hits came from Eric Cantrell, Robbie McCollough and Hunter Bouldin.
Tuesday’s tournament games were scheduled to be the Astros against the Reds, while the Indians were to take on the Woodlee’s Garage White Sox. Play continues Thursday night.