Nov. 4, 2016
Box Score | Box Score (PDF) | Coach Hall Audio
THE FLATS – The White team overcame an early 3-0 deficit to score three runs in the third, two in the fourth and one more in the fifth to defeat the Gold team 7-4 in the third and final game of the 2016 White vs. Gold World Series on Friday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium.
The Gold team took the overall series win at 2-1 over the White team.
“Honestly, I thought it was a little sloppy today. We made some errors and they stole a lot of bases which are things that kind of get you into trouble,” commented head coach Danny Hall. “But all told, I thought that we had a really good fall. Like I just told the team, I think one of the biggest things coming out of the fall is that nobody has a major injury that might slow them down or set them back. So we’ve gotten through the fall with that and the guys that have been injured are on their way back and that seems to be going in a positive direction. I thought it was a good fall and the weather was unbelievable.”
The bats came alive in the third game of the series for the White team, as seven different players accounted for eight hits led by freshman Xzavion Curry’s two base knocks. Curry was 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Tristin English was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Coleman Poje (1-for-4, double), Kyle McCann (1-for-3, double) and Paxton Rigby (0-for-3) all had one RBI apiece in the win.
On the mound, senior Ben Parr picked up the win, as he was one of six pitchers to see action for the White team in the nine-inning contest. Parr allowed three runs on four hits, while striking out six in 4.0 innings of work.
Burton Dulaney (2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 hit, 1 BB), Poje (0.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 hits, 1 K, 1 BB), Micah Carpenter (1.0, 0 ER, 0 hits, 1 K, 1 BB), Colby Tobin (0.2 IP, 0 ER, 0 hits) and Matt Phillips (1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 hits) combined to allow just one run over the final 5.0 innings of the game.
For the Gold team, infielder Wade Bailey was 1-for-2 with two RBIs, a run scored and three stolen bases, while freshman Austin Wilhite was 2-for-4 with a triple and a run scored.
Having won each of the first two games, the Gold team jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Bailey led-off the game with a single, stole second, swiped third and then stole home for the first run of the game.
The visitors in Gold added to the lead in the top of the second, as a trio of freshmen in Chase Murray, Austin Wilhite and Brenton Sanders loaded the bases by way of a walk, a single and a base-on-balls to start the inning.
With the bases loaded and no outs, Will Galloway hit a ground ball to third that plated Murray to increase the Gold team’s lead to two at 2-0.
Bailey then hit a hard grounder to short to drive in Austin Wilhite from third to put the visitors in front at 3-0.
The White team’s offense finally broke through in the bottom of the second, as outfielder Brandt Stallings lined a double down the left field line to open up the inning. Following a pop up to left, McCann ripped a double down the right field line to switch places with Stallings and get the home team on the scoreboard.
After a 1-2-3 top of the third, the White team looked to cut into the Gold team’s lead even more in the bottom of the third, as Jackson Webb and Parker McCoy hit back-to-back singles and then stole second and third to put two runners in scoring position with only one out.
English then added a single to right field to plate both Webb and McCoy to tie the score up at 3-3 and then advanced to second on an error by the right fielder.
The error proved costly as, English then looked to steal third when an errant throw by the catcher went into left field to allow the sophomore to score easily and put the White team on top 4-3.
With their first lead in the series, the White team refused to look back and added three insurance runs over the next two innings on an RBI double from Curry, an RBI from Rigby on a fielder’s choice and a run scoring double by Poje to put the home team in front by four at 7-3.
The Gold team pushed across a run on a bases loaded sacrifice fly from Bailey in the top of the seventh, however, the White team’s bullpen was able to hold the Gold team hitless over the final two innings to secure the 7-4 win.
Tech Tidbits
* The two teams combined to use 11 pitchers in the game – six for the White team and five for the Gold team.
* The two teams combined for nine stolen bases – six for the Gold team and three for the White team.
* The White team’s top three of the lineup went 3-for-8 with two RBI’s and four runs scored.
* For the three-game series, the Gold team had six players hit over .300 overall.
* For the three-game series, the White team had four players hit over .300 overall.
Up Nest
The annual White vs. Gold World Series concludes the fall season for the Yellow Jackets. Coach Hall’s squad will return to full practice for the 2017 spring slate in January 2017.
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Danny Hall Postgame Audio
