Mavs start fast, fade in Sunshine State
Wil Ridenour rounds the bases in stride for Anderson County, delivering at the plate with two hits, two runs and two RBIs in the Mavericks’ win over Leon. (photo:File Photo )
Things started well for the Mavericks (8-5), who won their first two games in Panama City Beach.
They defeated Leon 11-7 on Monday, March 16.
Daniel Unthank had a hit and two RBIs, while Jeremiah Owens went 1-for-2 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Clay Fletcher added a single, two RBIs and a run scored, and Nolan Benson had a hit and an RBI. He also scored two runs. Wil Ridenour added two hits, two runs and two RBIs.
Anderson County also picked up a 15-4 win over Covenant School of Jacksonville.
Unthank went 2-for-4 with four RBIs, four runs scored and a stolen base. Lee Goins was 2-for-5 with two RBIs, and Elijah Johnson went 1-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
“I was really happy with our first two games of the tournament,” ACHS Coach Josh Boynton said. “Almost all of our kids got in and got to swing the bats, throw or run the bases for us, and we did well.”
Things, however, took a turn for the worse for the Mavericks in their final three games in the Sunshine State.
In their third game, they lost 11-0 to Mosley and came out on the wrong end of a no-hitter.
Mosley capitalized on four Anderson County errors and started fast, scoring six runs in the first inning.
“Against Mosley, we ran into a buzzsaw of a pitcher,” Boynton said. “He’s really good and he’s going to Louisville.
“I knew that after we got down that we probably weren’t going to win the game. But I challenged them to compete, and we didn’t swing the sticks well and we didn’t play good defense.”
The Mavericks also dropped an 8-5 decision to Giles County.
Owens doubled and drove in a pair of runs, while Unthank doubled and scored two runs. Ridenour had two hits, two runs and an RBI, while Landry Sharp had two hits and drove in a run.
In their final game in Florida, the Mavericks were held to just three hits in a 2-0 loss to Holmes County.
