03/29/2024
Spread the love

[slideshow_deploy id=’97735′]
Photos by Kenneth Armstrong

LELAND- Elizabethtown pounded out 19 hits and rolled to an 18-3 victory over Dunn Wednesday in the North Carolina Dixie Youth Baseball State Tournament.

With the victory Elizabethtown advances to the ‘Final Four’ and will play unbeaten South Park Thursday at 2 p.m. An Elizabethtown victory Thursday would leave 3 teams in the tournament and all 3 would have one loss.

Garrison Tatum drew a lead-off walk, and Evan Pait lashed a single to right-centerfield in the top of the first. Ty Mathis then blasted a 3-run home run that scored Garrison Tatum and Pait.

Dunn answered with two home runs sandwiched around a walk to tie the game 3-3 in their half of the first.

Elizabethtown exploded for 9 runs in the second inning. Hunter Elks smashed a double to leftfield to start the rally, and Weston Hatcher knocked him in with a single to leftfield. Destin Montgomery swatted a single to rightfield, and Nathan Howell walked.

Garrison Tatum ripped a single to left that scored Hatcher, and Pait ripped a double down the leftfield line that scored Montgomery and Howell. Mathis smoked a single to centerfield that plated Garrison Tatum.

Ryan Johnson hammered a 3-run homer that scored Pait and Mathis ahead of him. Walker Ward yanked a single to rightfield, and walks to Coleman Tatum, Tyler Johnson and Carson Gooden forced home Ward and pushed the lead to 12-3.

Mathis led off the third inning with a single, and Ryan Johnson belted a single to left-centerfield. Ward followed with a single that loaded the bases. Tyler Johnson walked to force home Mathis, and Gooden lined a single to left-centerfield that scored Ryan Johnson for a 14-3 lead.

Garrison Tatum scorched a double to left-centerfield to begin the fourth inning. Pait smacked a single to centerfield, and Mathis drove in Garrison Tatum with a single. Ryan Johnson walked, and Ward sliced a single to left-centerfield that scored Pait and Mathis. Coleman Tatum launched a sacrifice fly to rightfield that scored Ryan Johnson.

Mathis batted 4-4 with a home run, 5 runs batted in and 4 runs scored to lead the winners attack. Ryan Johnson finished 2-2 at the plate with the 3-run homer. Pait was 3-4 with a double, 3 runs scored and 2rbi’s.

Ward also batted 3-4 with 2 rbi’s. Garrison Tatum finished 2-3 at the plate with a double and 3 runs scored. Elks slammed the double, and Coleman Tatum, Gooden, Hatcher and Montgomery added a single each.

Tyler Johnson pitched the first inning for Elizabethtown and gave up 3 runs on 2 hits and a walk while striking out one. Ryan Johnson pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief allowing 2 walks and a hit while striking out two. Gooden struck out 2 of the 3 batters that he faced in a perfect fourth inning.

About Author