By Chris McCarthy/Editor
The Coosa Christian baseball team survived a few tense moments on Monday (Mar. 14) en route to its 12th straight win, dispatching Pleasant Valley by the score of 9-6.
The host Conquerors (12-1) jumped out to a 7-1 lead before the Raiders put across four runs in the top of the fourth inning to keep within striking distance.
Coosa failed to score over the next two innings, and the visitors were primed to take advantage in the sixth with runners in scoring position and one out.
On consecutive plays, however, catcher Caleb Garrett tracked down a live ball near the backstop and threw to reliever Caden Davison, who tagged out the runner from third base in both instances.
“We practice for that every day, and when we’re able to execute in those situations, good things usually come out of it,” said Coosa head coach Joey Millican. “Our pitching and our defense really came through for us today, so I’m very happy about that.”
Garrett and Alexander Holman scored in the bottom of the sixth to provide the hosts some breathing room. Pleasant Valley managed a run in the seventh before Davidson induced a groundout to end the game.
Holman went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Jackson Justus went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored.
In five and one-third innings, winning pitcher Ashton Clemmons scattered two walks, nine hits and four earned runs while striking out three. Davidson allowed one hit, one walk and one run.
“Ashton did an awesome job on the mound, and Caden came in and closed it out like he was supposed to do,” said Millican. “Caden works fast, which I like. It really helps us when our pitchers get into a rhythm and stay in a rhythm.”
The Conqueror offense didn’t get untracked until the third inning, during which the hosts produced seven runs off seven hits while batting around the order. Holman and Jace Mills each had RBI singles and Justus lined a two-run double.
The Raiders responded in the top of the fourth with four runs, two of which came off fielding errors. But Clemmons limited Pleasant Valley to one walk in the fifth, and the consecutive outs at home plate in the sixth halted the visitors’ last real threat.
Garrett went 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Clemmons went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Mills and Dawson Ashley both had a hit, an RBI and a run scored.
“We got the bats going today, and that’s what we needed to do,” said Millican. “We’re playing hard and we’re playing the game the way it’s supposed to be played. Hopefully we can keep the momentum going.”