by Malcolm Butler
Heading into the top of the sixth inning Monday night, a chant of “Let’s Go Ruston” reverberated through the stands on Field 1 of the Ruston Sports Complex.
Although things looked bleak with the host team trailing Team Florida 12-4 entering its final at bat, the tremendous support from the Ruston faithful was still evident.
In a game that saw Ruston lead through the first three innings of the winner bracket contest, Team Florida capitalized on some miscues in the fourth inning, grabbed a 5-4 lead and never looked back in advancing another round on the top side of the bracket.
Ruston, suffering just its first loss of the bracket round, will hit the field this morning at 9 a.m. to face Team Louisiana in an elimination game. The winner has a chance depending on outcomes of the Team Florida vs. Team Arkansas game (also at 9 a.m.) to advance to the title game without playing again.
Head coach Cody Channell remained upbeat and positive about his young bunch following Monday night’s loss. He also sang the praises of a loud and supportive Ruston crowd.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the coaching staff and the parents, and the boys are just incredible,” said Channell. “All of the support they have received from (the community) … well they will remember this forever. That’s what they will remember when we set back and think about it. It’s not always about winning and losing.”
Ruston opened up the game plating a pair of runs in the top of the first inning against Team Florida starter Luke Graham.
Bear Brasher reached on a throwing error and moved to third on Cooper Stoehr’s line drive double into the left centerfield gap. Lucas Shaw followed with a ground out that plated Brasher from third base as Ruston drew first blood.
After Lane Channell walked, Stoehr raced home from third base when the Team Florida catcher threw the ball away trying to pick Channell off first base.
Team Florida wasted little time in responding, tying the game at 2-2 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame against Ruston starter Brantlee Doolittle. Despite some first inning hitters on the mound, Doolittle found his composure and struck out the final two batters of the inning stranding Team Florida runners on second and third.
Both teams worked perfect innings in the second with Doolittle retiring the side on just nine pitches as the game remained tied at 2-2.
In the top of the third inning, Brasher started a two-out rally, doubling down the left field line. Brasher gave Ruston the 3-2 lead, scoring all the way from second on a fielding error by Team Florida on Doolittle’s ground ball and then the subsequent throwing error on the same play by the Team Florida first baseman.
Lucas Shaw came on in relief on the mound in the bottom of the third inning, and put a zero on the board thanks to some help from his defense. Outfielder Charlie Williams ran down a deep fly ball in right field with a runner on third and two outs to end the frame and keep the one run lead intact.
Ruston added a run in the fourth. Channell singled to start the frame but was erased on Tucker Underwood’s ground ball to second base. Underwood moved to second on a bunt single by Williams and to third on an infield error on a ground ball by Henry Pullin.
Abram Riser then drove Underwood home on a fielder’s choice ground ball to shortstop as Ruston upped its advantage to 4-2.
But Team Florida never flinched.
Back-to-back walks started the bottom of the fourth followed by a pair of costly errors by Ruston’s defense on a ground ball, leading directly to two runs and a tie ball game. One batter later, the go-ahead run scored for Team Florida despite an impressive defensive play by Underwood at third base who recorded the out at first base.
“They are a great team,” said Coach Channell. “They took advantage of the mistakes we made, and that’s how it goes sometimes.”
Ruston tried to rally in the fifth. Brasher singled up the middle and Doolittle walked with 1 out. Stoehr then recorded his third hit of the game on a flair to shallow right centerfield. Although the diving attempt by the Team Florida outfielder came up short, a force out was recorded on a bang bang play at second base for the second out.
Shaw then grounded out to end the threat as Team Florida held on to its slim 5-4 lead.
Team Florida then plated seven runs on six hits and three walks in the bottom of the fifth inning to push its lead to eight and seal the win.
Channell said his message to his team following the game was simple.
“They deserve to be here because of the work they have put in and the games they have won so far,” said Channel. “That was my message. Just reset. Flush it. They have earned the opportunity to still be here in this tournament. Now let’s go get them.”
_____________________________
Earlier in the day, the Ruston 12u All-Star team competing in the Majors was eliminated 7-1 by Team Louisiana (Gonzalez).
Team Louisiana plated six runs in the first inning to take the lead and never looked back. Ruston had the bases loaded and no outs in the first inning, but managed just a single run.
