Mavs Run-Rule Dragons
Moog, Anderson County bats combine for win over Clinton
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Anderson County’s Eli Varner waits on a pitch in the Mavs’ win over Clinton - Conner McCarty
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Ryan Moog releases a fastball - Conner McCarty
The Anderson County Baseball Mavericks earned a big 11-1 District 3-AAA home win over archrival Clinton, on Monday Night.
Senior LHP Ryan Moog earned the win, and was outstanding on the mound all night.
Moog pitched all six innings and faced 23 Clinton batters. The senior threw 57 strikes out of 91 pitches, sat down 11 Dragons, walked one, and only gave up one hit.
“I expect Ryan to be our horse on the mound, who can eat up a lot of innings.With (Ryan) on the mound commanding the fastball, we’ve always got a chance to win,” said Anderson County Head Coach Cory Stooksbury before the season.
On Monday night, on the mound of Murrell Albright Field, Ryan Moog’s nearly perfect performance met Stooksbury’s expectations.
Offensively, the Mavs defended the strikezone well, and were efficient on the bags, as Anderson County scored 11 runs on 12
The Mavs would draw first blood in the home half of the second inning. Freshman hit a RBI-sac-fly to center, which scored Cole Foust from third.
Senior Andy Fox would be the ensuing batter, and would deliver an RBI of his own.
After a Devin Wilcox steal, Fox would smash a ground ball up the middle, which scored Wilcox from second. Fox’s RBI-single gave the hosts an early 2-0 lead.
After forcing Clinton to go three up, three down, Anderson County added to their lead in the third inning.
With nobody out and runners on the corners, Senior Preston Seiber stepped up to the plate.
The six-foot-one third baseman smoked an RBI-line-drive to center, and his classmate Caleb Wilhoit trotted 90 feet to the plate.
Two batters later, with one out, and runners on second and third, Varner returned to the dish.
The six-foot-one freshman left fielderhit a hard grounder to second, but reached on an error. Both of the Mavs’ baserunners scored on the play, and Anderson County led 5-0.
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Dragons would get on the board in the top of the fifth.
On third, junior Nathan Lee would race to the plate on an Anderson County wild pitch, and Clinton cut into the Mavs lead, 5-1.
However, Clinton was unable to score again in the ballgame
In the bottom of the fifth, the Mavs loaded the bases before the Dragons could record an out.
Wilcox, who was on third, would reach the plate safely on a wild pitch, to restore Anderson County’s five-run advantage.
Also, Varner and Fox advanced on wild pitch, which put both Mavs in scoring positions.
The ensuing batter, junior right fielder Tyler Phillips, swung on the first pitch of the at bat, and lined it back up the middle.
Phillips’ two-RBI-single brought Varner and Fox across, and gave Anderson County an 8-1 advantage.
In the bottom half of the sixth, the Mavs would put the visiting Dragons away via the ten-run-rule.
With one out, the bases loaded, and Varner at the dish, a wild pitch would send sophomore Koby Redden 90 feet across the plate.
After Varner reached on a walk, again, the bases were loaded.
With Fox at the plate, the Mavs would take a 10-1 lead when Foust reached the plate on a passed ball.
Later in the at-bat, Fox reached after being hit by a pitch, which loaded the Anderson County bases for the third time in the inning,
Freshman second baseman Connor Tackett stepped up to the dish with a chance to end the ballgame.
After falling behind the count and facing a possible third strike, Tackett ripped a line drive RBI-single to left.
The freshman’s win-clinching single brought Wilcox in to score, the Anderson County dugout exploded, and the 11-1 victory celebration began.
As for Clinton, the Dragons struggled with multiple facets of the game.
Offensively, Clinton had only one hit in the contest. Defensively, the Dragons had seven errors.
On the mound, two Clinton pitchers gave up six hits each and finished the game with more walks (five) than strikeouts (four).
The rivalry continues Tuesday night, at Jaycee Park, as Anderson County travels to Clinton.
First pitch of the District 3-AAA showdown is scheduled for 6:30.
