ED YARBOROUGH FIELD — The
Cherokee American 11- and 12-year-old All-Stars held off a
final-inning rally to earn their way into the state tournament with
a dramatic 8-7 win over the Cherokee Nationals Thursday night.
A crowd of over 200 fans,
family and friends braved temperatures in the mid-90s to watch the
two evenly matched squads battle back and forth for the right to
travel to Eufala on July 17 as the representative from District 8.
The Americans, mostly players
from Centre, fell behind early to the Nationals, comprised of
players from Sand Rock and Cedar Bluff.
Caylon Simpson's two-run
homer in the bottom of the first gave the Nationals a lead that they
held until the Americans scored five runs in the bottom of the third
inning.
Nursing a 2-1 lead, the
Nationals starting pitcher walked the bases loaded before coaches
went with reliever Cole Kucharski. The heart of the Americans lineup
immediately took advantage of the change when Josh Decker's single
scored Colin Edwards to tie the game at 2-2.
The next batter was cleanup
hitter Colin Brewer, whose line drive to third base was mishandled
allowing two more runs to score. Bronson Chandler's two-out double
pushed two more runs across the plate before the Nationals got out
of the inning.
The Americans scored two more
runs in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 8-3 – and then
the fireworks began.
After a pitching change by
the Americans to begin the sixth and final inning, the Nationals
loaded the bases for center fielder Gage Davis, whose grand slam
home run with two outs made the score 8-7.
The next batter grounded out
to third, ending the game.
Americans assistant coach Jed
Lockridge said the one constant throughout the tournament was the
way his team kept a positive attitude, regardless of the situation.
“They just never get down,”
Lockridge said. “They stayed together and kept their heads together
in every game.”
Centre was hosting its first
district tournament for the 11-12 age group in at least a decade,
according Centre Parks Dept. Director Charles Glazner.
“We've had a great turnout,
200-plus people every night since Friday” for the eight-team
tourney, Glazner said.
Dixie Youth League President
Kevin Green said he was proud of the teams and the response from the
community.
“It really has been
tremendous, despite the heat we've had a lot of people come out and
show their support for our all-stars,” Green said. “Without the
support of the city of Centre none of this would have been
possible.”