SPORTS STORY>>Gwatney rally earns win in seventh inning

By RAY BENTON 
Leader sports editor

SHERIDAN – Jacksonville’s junior American Legion team saved its best for last, the very last, in the first round of the state tournament at Sheridan.

The Gwatney squad overcame a big deficit by scoring nine runs in the last inning to beat Genoa Central 16-12 and advance to the second round of the winners’ bracket.

Trailing 12-7 heading into the top of the seventh inning, Jacksonville coach David St. Clair had a simple message for his squad as it prepared for its last at bat.

“I told them to score six runs,” St. Clair said. His squad did him three better.

Jacksonville didn’t make an out until the ninth batter of the inning. Fifteen Chevy Boys went to the plate. It started with eight-hole hitter Ryan Mallison drawing a walk off relief pitcher Jared Oats, who took the mound in relief of starter Justin Swecker.

Courtland McDonald then walked and leadoff hitter Troy Allen was hit by a pitch for the third time in the game to load the bases. Derek St. Clair then singled to drive in one run and Austin Allen drew another walk for an RBI. That prompted a quick hook from Genoa coaches for Oats. They brought in first baseman and cleanup hitter NickPurifoy to take the mound, but he didn’t fare much better. Kaleb Reeves, Justin Abbott and Greg Jones got consecutive singles off Purifoy before he finally recorded an out when Blake Perry popped up to the catcher. LaDerrious Perry and McDonald then got back-to-back RBI singles and Troy Allen reached on an error by Purifoy that scored LaDerrious Perry and left runners on first and second. St. Clair bunted them into scoring position and Purifoy intentionally walked Austin Allen before striking out Reeves to end the inning.

Derek St. Clair took the mound in relief in the bottom of the seventh and things started poorly for him. He walked the first two batters, but a big play at first base got him out of the jam.

Troy Allen, who had been behind the plate for six innings, made a leaping snow-cone catch of a Cale Ridling line drive, and beat Lane Hughes back to the base for an unassisted double play. Purifoy then flew out to centerfield for the final out of the game.

“Troy’s just a gamer,” David St. Clair said. “He just finds a way, whether it’s at the plate or in the field. He’s just a bulldog out there.”

Jacksonville got out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first with the help of an error and a wild pitch, but the Dragons stayed close with two in the bottom of the first.

They took their first lead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth that made it 7-4. Jacksonville tied it in the top of the fifth, but Genoa Central took apparent command of the game with five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Blake Perry took the mound with one out in the fifth inning in relief of starting pitcher James Tucker.

Perry was rocked for four hits and three earned runs before getting out of the fifth, but retired the side in order in the sixth to end up with the win. St. Clair got the save while Tucker settled for a no decision. Tucker gave up nine runs, but only five were earned due to five Jacksonville errors in the infield.

While the infield struggled, Jacksonville’s outfield was outstanding, especially Austin Allen, who made two big catches that helped stop Genoa onslaughts in the middle innings.

“Those two Allen boys,” David St. Clair said. “Austin is as good a centerfielder as there is in this state.”

Austin Allen struggled at the plate, but did get a double to deep left-center in the first inning for the first of his two RBIs.

Troy Allen got just one base hit, but reached base in five of his six at bats, including three HBPs, one two-RBI double and once on an error. Abbott led the Chevy Boys offensively. The five-hole hitter finished with three base hits, including two doubles and three runs batted in. Derek St. Clair, Jones and Blake Perry each got two base hits.

The Gwatney squad finished with 16 total base hits while Genoa got 13.

Jacksonville faces Tex-arkana at 5 p.m. today at Sheridan. The Razorbacks barely escaped Jonesboro-Armor 10-9 with three runs in the last inning of their first-round game.