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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
ELIZABETHTOWN – Elizabethtown rode an 11-hit attack and a stand-out defensive effort to an 8-2 victory over West Robeson National Wednesday night in the championship game of the Dixie Youth Baseball District 9 Majors Tournament.
Both Elizabethtown and West Robeson National advance to the North Carolina Majors State Tournament in Kenansville that begins on July 16.
Ty Mathis pitched a complete game victory striking out one, walking one and allowing only 5 hits and 2 runs – one earned. The Elizabethtown defense turned in a stellar performance led by thirdbaseman Raymond Autry and shortstop Freddy Wooten.
Autry had 5 assists and 2 put-outs. With runners at first and second base and one out in the fourth inning, Autry went to a knee to stop a hot shot, bounced up and stepped on the bag for the force at third then gunned the ball to firstbaseman Victor Campbell for an inning-ending double play.
Wooten totaled 4 put-outs and 3 assists. With one out and a runner at first in the fifth, Wooten raced way out into centerfield to haul in a bloop with his back to the plate, then spun around and fired a strike to firstbaseman Garrett Melvin to double the runner off first.
West Robeson scored their 2 runs in the top of the first on 2 hits and an error.
Melvin led off the Elizabethtown first with a double to leftfield, and Evan Pait ripped a single to centerfield to drive in Melvin. Wooten belted a single to left, and Autry beat out an infield hit to load the bases.
Pait was forced out at the plate on a fielder’s choice, but Campbell delivered a 2-out, 2-strike double to left-centerfield that scored Wooten and Autry and put Elizabethtown up 3-2.
After a pair of scoreless frames, Elizabethtown struck for 2 runs in the fourth. Autry started the rally with a single, and Mathis was safe when his bunt was booted.
Campbell bounced a single up the middle that scored Autry, and Garrison Tatum’s sacrifice bunt plated Mathis and padded the lead to 5-2.
Melvin singled to start the Elizabethtown fifth. Pait smashed a double to the gap in left-centerfield that scored Melvin. Wooten drilled a shot that banged off the fence in left-centerfield for a double that scored Pait.
Wooten stole third base and scored the final run on Mathis’ fielder’s choice.
Melvin batted 3-3 with a double and 2 runs scored. Pait finished 2-2 at the plate with a double, 2 runs batted in and a run scored. Campbell was 2-2 with a double and 3 key rbi’s.
Wooten batted 2-3 with a double, an rbi and 2 runs scored. Autry finished 2-3 at the plate and scored 2 runs. Mathis scored a run and drove in a run. Garrison Tatum had an rbi.
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