By Mike Goodson/Sports Correspondent
Sardis advanced to the championship game of Etowah County Schools baseball tournament with a 3-2 win over Glencoe on Monday (Apr. 15) in Sardis City.
The Lions will play the winner of the Southside/Hokes Bluff Eagles semifinal game prior to the title contest.
The outcome was decided on the game’s final play with a Yellow Jacket runner being thrown out at home plate for the third out.
“It was a great game, and both teams played well,” said Sardis head coach Clay Wright. “We played well defensively and got some timely hits.”
The game turned out as a pitchers duel, with both teams using several pitchers until the sixth inning.
Sardis scored the game’s first run in the top of the sixth when Ross Strickland led off with a single and was bunted to second base by Jesse Hubbard.
Stirckland advanced to third on a wild pitch, then scored on a groundout by Dexter McKinney.
Glencoe answered in the bottom of the inning when Daniel Otwell reached on an error and later scored on a throwing error.
The seventh inning was when things got interesting.
With one out, Zack Childers singled and scored the go-ahead run on a double by Kailon Roberson. Dylan Bolding walked, and Roberson scored on a fielding error to give the Lions a 3-1 lead.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Hunter Gibbs singled and Garrett Pentecost was hit by a pitch. The runners then advanced on a balk, and with two outs Houston Word singled in Gibbs to draw within a run.
Pentecost was sent home and thrown out at the plate to end the game.
For the Lions, Childers and Roberson each went 2-for-3.
For Glencoe, Ryan George went 2-for-3.