DIXIE YOUTH: Opelika National wins big in Majors

By the time Opelika National relief pitcher Gage Young entered the game in the third inning, his team was already leading by 10 runs.

But since the game must go at least four innings to be decided by the mercy rule, Young made sure that Opelika National’s advantage would never be threatened.

Young recorded the last six outs by strikeout, giving up just one hit in Opelika National’s 14-0 Dixie Youth Major (11-12) All-Star win over LaFayette in the first round of the District 10 Sub-District 1 tournament Friday night at West Ridge Park.

It was LaFayette’s only hit of the night.

Opelika National starter Matthew Christian struck out four in his two innings of work, advancing the home team in the winners’ bracket of the four-team tournament. Opelika will play Beauregard — 11-0 winners over Russell County in the tournament’s first game — at 7:30 p.m. today.

Russell County and LaFayette will play in the losers’ bracket at 6 tonight.

After a 1-2-3 top half of the first inning, Opelika National came out swinging in its first at-bat.

Consecutive singles by Tanner Blatt and Brandon Waido to open the bottom of the first set up an RBI single by Chase Hedgwood, who plated Blatt. Christian followed with another single, scoring both Waido and Hedgwood to give Opelika a 3-0 lead with no outs.

Another single by Winston Smith T scored Christian. Two batters later, Bennett Whitman drove in Gage Keel and Smith T with a single to center field for a 6-0 lead.

Opelika National tacked on four more in the second, as Waido drove in Young and Blatt with a double. Young and Blatt both reached base on back-to-back singles.

Waido would then score on an error, as would Hedgwood, who reached base on a double of his own.

The home team hung four more in the third, two off an RBI triple by Berry Dudley, one on an RBI single by Young and the last one on an error off the bat of Waido.

In all, Opelika National peppered LaFayette with 13 hits.

The top two teams from Sub-District 1 will play in the District 10 tournament July 8 in Smith Station.

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