The McKenzie Banner Online - Your GOOD NEWSpaper

By Pat Cole
pcole@mckenziebanner.com

The win did not come easily, with inconsistent calls both at the plate and in the field and the injury to shortstop Andrew Maddox. Still, the Mustangs were a determined group of young men, many of whom have one state title to their credit and are seeking a second. For the seniors, the win was particularly sweet after what appeared to be a homerun was ruled instead a ground rule double. Senior Matt Spellings had what appeared to be a homerun in the second inning, but it was ruled to have bounced over the fence for a ground rule double. Spellings then came to bat in the top of the fourth and left no doubt in the minds of anyone as he hit the ball so hard, it was still midway up the light pole as it crossed the centerfield fence. That hit brought in two runs as Adam Carter had led off with a walk. It also scored the tying and ultimately winning run.

Spellings was confident of the second hit and noted later, “The seniors have been waiting so long for the support of the whole team and the right coaching.”

Brian Nellett, who ultimately won the game on the mound, relieving Spellings in the bottom of the fourth and retired the first 11 batters he faced, and ultimately ended the game on a strikeout. When asked how he felt about the win, he noted “It feels great.” Nellett was the defensive MVP in the state title football game in December and knew the pressure he was under when he was asked to go to the mound. He handled it with the expertise only a seasoned player could produce and seemed perfectly at ease as he pitched the final four innings, striking out six of the 13 batters he faced.

The game began with White getting the only hit of the first inning, a double. After Joseph Butler took over running duties, he scored on a fielder’s choice hit by Nellett to put the Stangs up 1-0 in the top of the first inning. However, the bottom of the inning found the Stangs in a bit of trouble as Spellings faced seven batters, but the Stangs held the game to a single run with some good defense and after one full inning of action the game was tied at one.

The second inning, Carter led off by striking out and then Spellings went to the plate and on the third pitch hit the ball over the left field fence where it hit and rolled away. The outfielder waived a ground rule double, that the ball had bounced over the fence and the officials agreed with that assessment, bringing an uproar from Huntingdon fans who reportedly saw the ball hit and roll, not bounce. However, Spellings was left on base as the Halls defense caught the next two balls for outs.

Halls came to bat in the bottom of the inning to score two runs and took a 3-1 lead.

The Stangs returned the favor in the top of the third inning with Maddox leading off with a single and White hitting a homerun over the centerfield fence to tie the game at three.

Halls came back in the bottom of the inning to score a single run after the leadoff batter walked. It appeared the Tigers might score another, but the runner coming from first base ran down shortstop Andrew Maddox rather than attempting to slide for safety. Maddox was literally knocked out, but held on to the ball for the final out as officials, players and coaches from both side tended to his needs. He regained partial consciousness and was then carried from the field by Coach Alan Eubanks and one of the Halls coaches.

As the Stangs came to bat in the top of the fourth, they were somewhat fired up. Carter walked and then Spellings hit a homerun no one could deny to score the two runs that gave Huntingdon a 5-4 advantage. Although the Stangs were unable to score again, Nellett came to the mound in relief and literally gave the Tigers little to hit. The first two batters grounded out to second and short while the third flew out to right field. Batter number four (in the fifth inning) struck out while Spellings took a ball hit down the first base line and threw it beautifully to Nellett for the fifth out and Adam Parish made a good catch on a hard hit ball to the short stop. In the sixth inning, after the first batter flew out to center field, Nellett struck out the last two. The final inning allowed a single base runner after Nellett struck out the first two and ultimately the fourth batter of the inning.

Following the game, Coach Eubanks was extremely pleased with his team. Although he had been an assistant football coach with the Stangs in December, his first year of being the head coach of the baseball team has been a joy. He said, “This trip is even sweeter. No one counted us in, but these players. They started working January 5 and haven’t quit. They worked too hard to be denied. I’m so proud of these seniors.”

Huntingdon faced Chattanooga Christian in their first game on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.