More Moose magic
- Updated: February 22, 2018
Spring sports: Pleasant Valley rallies to beat White Plains in extra innings; Lincoln softball edges White Plains
By East Alabama Sports Today
JACKSONVILLE – A year later, Moose the Minion still has it.
The unofficial Pleasant Valley mascot brought much magic to the second half of the Raiders’ season a year ago after joining the team in Gulf Shores.
MOOSE
Moose delivered again in the new season Thursday, coming out of the bullpen, as the Raiders rallied from three- and four-run deficits to beat White Plains 10-9 in eight innings for their second win of the season.
Nic Smith’s bad-hop grounder through the infield with one out in the eighth drove home catcher Drew Bonds from second with the winning run.
“They jumped on us early and we just kind of played catch-up the whole game,” PV coach Chris Youngman said. “We kept fighting and that’s a mentality we ain’t had in a couple years.
“We talked to the guys about believing in expectations, in what you can do and how good you are; we told them that’s what it takes to win. We never gave up.”
The game was loaded with drama. When the Raiders were falling behind 8-4 in the fifth the the players noticed Moose wasn’t in his customary place in the dugout. Panicked by his absence, they raced up to the locker room to fetch him and once he got to the game the Raiders immediately scored five in the home fifth to take a 9-8 lead.
The Wildcats tied it in the seventh when Charlie Huey’s RBI single drove in Ryan Bannister. They preserved the tie and sent the game to extra innings when center fielder Braxton Dopson caught Triston Salster’s fly and threw a bullet to Jake Spivey at the plate to cut down Reagan King and complete an inning-ending double play.
White Plains got two runners in scoring position with two outs in the eighth, but Salster got out of the jam with a strikeout.
Bonds opened the home eighth with a double – his second double and third hit of the game – and stayed in the game. Smith hit a ball that got through the infield and Bonds scored the winning run
“It was a big way to start, 2-0, and 2-0 in the county,” Youngman said. “I like the direction we’re going right now.”
White Plains 230 120 10 – 9
Pleasant Val. 112 050 01 – 10
Piedmont 15, Wellborn 1: Mason Mohon hit a two-run homer, drove in three runs and pitched two innings of no-hit relief behind starter and winner Logan Pruitt in the five-inning game.
Cole Chasteen had three hits for the Bulldogs. Taylor Morrow went 2-for-2 and reached base all four times he batted, and T.J. Fairs drove in two runs without getting a hit.
Piedmont 050 46 – 15
Wellborn 001 00 – 1
Spring Garden 4, Saks 3: The Panthers rallied for three runs in the top of seventh to break a 1-1 tie and spoil the Wildcats’ opener.
Saks’ Jaylen Childs went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and gave up one earned run in six innings on the mound. Harley Burgess had a pair of hits in the leadoff spot.
The opponent for Saks was originally scheduled to be Ohatchee, but a rash of illness and injuries forced the Indians to cancel this game and Saturday’s games with Munford and host White Plains. The situation is said to have left the Indians with seven available players. The Indians expect to have everyone back on the field Tuesday when they play Jacksonville at home.
Spring Garden 000 100 3 – 4
Saks 000 001 2 – 3
SOFTBALL
Lincoln 4, White Plains 3: Ashley Williams’ two-run double highlighted a three-run third inning and the Lady Bears held on to win their season opener and coach David Box’ debut.
Kinsey Smith followed Williams with an RBI double to make it 3-1. The Lady Bears added a fourth run in the fourth inning on a passed ball. Morgan Allison also doubled and Amity Cooper, Victoria Mitchell and Brooklyn Fergerson each had a hit for Lincoln. Ray Powell struck out seven in seven innings.
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