By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
It wasn’t quite as easy as the first time, but Gwatney Chevrolet got its second win over Sylvan Hills in Jr. Legion play at Dupree Park on Tuesday. The Chevy boys once again relied on a big third inning to get the advantage over the Optimist Bruins, but had to sweat out a late SH rally to take a close 5-4 win.
Gwatney had cruised to a big 10-5 win over the Bruins one week earlier at Burns Park.
Relief pitcher Matt McAnally pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth to preserve the win.
Gwatney plated its first two batters to start out the game. A.J. Allen led things off with a double to left field, and Terrell Brown was hit by a pitch. Allen came inon a fielder’s choice, and Brown scored on a double by McAnally for an early 2-0 lead.
The Bruins were able to make up one of those runs in the top of the second inning. Eric McKinney was hit with a pitch, moved to second on a passed ball, stole third and scored on a throwing error.
Brown started off Gwatney’s big third inning with a single, and Mitchell walked. Thurman followed with a 2-run triple to deep left.
Thurman then scored the final Chevy run of the night when he came in on a grounder by Jared Toney. That gave Gwatney a 5-1 lead, but the Bruins came alive in the following frame.
Seven-hole hitter Matt Russell singled, and Justin Jones was hit by a pitch. McAnally came on in relief of Gwatney starter and winner Stephen Swaggerty.
Leadoff batter Justin Cook greeted McAnally with a double into left center that scored both Russell and Jones to make it 5-3.
Ryan Dillon singled to right to score Cook and draw the Bruins to within one at 5-4.
The Bruins threatened to take the lead in the fifth when they loaded the bases on singles by McKinney, Nathan Eller and Russell. But McAnally was able to pitch out of the jam.
McAnally was 2 of 3 with a double and an RBI; Thurman was 1 of 3 with a triple and two RBI. Allen was 1 of 3 with a double and one run scored, while Brown was 2 of 2 with a run scored.
For Sylvan Hills, Russell was 2 of 2 with a run scored, and Cook was 1 of 3 with a double and 2 RBI.
Gwatney and Sylvan Hills will both take part in the 6th annual Jr. Legion tournament at Dupree Park this weekend. The Bruins will play Gwatney today at noon in their first pool game. The Chevy Boys started tourney play last night against Benton.
