Diamond Canes Win Home Opener in Extra Innings
After losing their first two games of the season on the road to Social Circle and GMC, the ‘Canes picked up their first win of the season in their home opener in dramatic fashion Tuesday, by defeating the Social Circle Red Devils 7-6 in extra innings.
The win came in the bottom of the eighth inning with the ’Canes trailing 6-5.
After Sadarius Rooks and Brady McMichael singled, Dee Chapman hit a line shot double down the right field line, scoring Rooks and McMichael, sealing the win.
Kevin Camp was on the mound for all seven regulation innings, and faced one batter in the top of the eighth before being relieved by left hander Clay Hardy.
Hardy went on to get the win, but Camp threw over 125 pitches, struck out six batters, and pitched his way out of trouble on three occasions when the Red Devils had the bases loaded.
Center Fielder Rooks also made a saving play in the top of the seventh inning when he chased down a line drive for an out and then relayed the ball for a double play on the runner who had been on first base.
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The ’Canes jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, then to a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the third. They picked up another run in the bottom of the fifth for a 5-2 lead, only to see the Red Devils tie the game 5-5 in the top of the sixth. Both teams went scoreless in the seventh inning forcing the game into an extra inning. The Red Devils picked up a run in the top of the eighth and led 6-5 for the first time in the game.
After one out in the bottom of the eighth, Dustin Womack came in to pinch hit and managed to get on base after a Red Devil throwing error. Then after two consecutive singles to load the bases, Chapman struck the fatal blow for the Red Devils.
Although the ‘Canes were shaky on defense in several innings, the pitching by Camp and the batting was enough to win the game.
A. J. Thomas led the hitting with a double and a single and one RBI, followed by McMichael with two singles, Chapman with a double and two RBI, Camp with a double and one RBI, Jonathan Bell with a double, and Rooks and Tony Davis with singles.
Although Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach Chris Jenkins said he wasn’t happy with the defense, he did give praise to his pitcher, when he said, “He struggled at times, but he made adjustments and did a great job when the game was on the line. On defense, we made the same mistakes that caused us to lose our first two games, but we did manage to pull out a win tonight.”
The ’Canes are on the road again today, March 3, at GMC, and are scheduled to play at home tomorrow, March 4, versus Baldwin County at 5 p.m.