Trojans earn trip to Montgomery

By Scot Beard
scot@athensnews-courier.com

ATHENS May 10, 2008 08:35 pm

— The Athens Bible School baseball team showed its fans a little bit of everything in its state semifinal series against Shoals Christian.
In the opening game, the Trojans lost by 10 runs. In the second game, they defeated the Flame by 11 runs.
Saturday, ABS showed its fans a close game as the Trojans rallied from a late deficit to beat Shoals Christian 8-6 and advance to the state finals in Montgomery.
“I knew today would be a close, tight game,” Athens Bible School coach Bill Murrell said. “Both teams pitched their No. 1 and No. 2 pitchers yesterday.”
Of the two teams, Shoals Christian seemed more nervous at the start of the game. The Flame’s starting pitcher walked the first two batters he faced and did not throw a strike until his ninth pitch of the game.
The Trojans were not able to capitalize on the gift as the next three ABS batters were retired.
The Flame struck first, scoring one run on a home run that hit half way up one of the trees beyond the centerfield fence.
“After the first inning, I thought it would be a breeze,” said ABS’ starting pitcher Ryan Mooring. “But after that home run…”
The Trojans answered in the third inning, scoring four runs to take a sizable lead.
A.J. Price led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Joseph Baker followed by reaching first on an error and stealing second base.
Will Stinnett hit a ground-rule double to score Price and Baker, giving ABS the lead.
Jordan Pugh reached base after a pitch hit him on the foot. Troy Steelman drew a walk to load the bases and Will Chumbley hit an infield single to score Stinnett.
Morring hit a sacrifice fly to score Pugh to round out the scoring in the inning.
The lead was short lived as Shoals Christian scored three runs in the top of the fourth to tie the game. They added two more in the fifth to take a 6-4 lead.
Connor Brown came in to relieve Mooring during the fifth inning.
The Trojans cut the lead to one in the bottom of the fifth when Morring hit a solo home run.
“I think it helped in getting us going,” Morring said of his homer. “We were able to come back the next inning and drive in runs.”
Baker led off the sixth with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Stinnett followed with a single, driving Baker home to tie the game.
Pugh singled and advanced to second on a single by Connor Brown. A base running mistake by Pugh resulted in him being tagged out, leaving runners at first and third.
Brett Westbrook came to the plate as a pinch hitter and drove in both runners, giving ABS an 8-6 lead.
“(Westbrook) is a good hitter and I was saving him for a situation like that,” Murrell said. “I was torn between starting him at third and saving him as a pinch hitter.”
Shoals Christian threatened in the seventh when the lead off hitter drew a walk and another hitter doubled to put the tying runs in scoring position with one out.
Murrell changed pitchers, going with game two hero A.J. Price. Although he pitched Friday, Price was able to pitch because he only threw six innings Friday. State rules limit pitcher to a maximum of seven innings over two consecutive calendar days.
Price struck out two and walked one to earn the save.
With the win, ABS advanced to the state finals against Providence Christian. The best-of-three series begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Paterson Field in Montgomery. Game 2 will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday and Game 3, if necessary, will follow.
“We’ve been to the finals four other times,” Murrell said. “We’ve been the bridesmaid each time. I have know idea what to expect from Providence.”

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