DIXIE YOUTH: Auburn Blue stays alive

VALLEY — Needing a win against Smiths Station to force another game, Auburn Blue came out swinging in the first inning Wednesday at the Valley Sportsplex.

And they didn’t stop for quite some time.

Auburn sent 15 batters to the plate and scored 11 runs in the bottom of the first on its way to a 15-7 win, forcing a rematch with Smiths Station in the Dixie AAA (9-10) All-Star District 10 Sub-District 3 tournament.

The two teams play again today at 6 p.m. to determine the Sub-District champion. Both are already through to the District tournament.

“These kids were just extremely determined to come out here and play baseball the way they can play,” Auburn coach Kelly Carter said. “They had the eye of the tiger in them tonight.”

Harrison Speaks started things off right with a leadoff single, and the next 13 Auburn batters proceeded to reach base, including Speaks himself adding a bases-clearing single to make the score 11-1.

Clay Kiteley had a three-run triple, and Bailey Cone singled home two runs in that stretch, as Auburn used six hits, two hit batsmen, three walks and an error to blow it open early.

Smiths Station was down, but not exactly out, coming back with five in the top of the second to cut the lead to 11-6.

Smiths Station drew four walks, and Tyler Cadenhead doubled home three runs to bring his team back into the game.

Then Brooks Fuller came in from the bullpen and stopped the bleeding.

Fuller went 3 2/3 innings in relief of Noah Barnes, who got the win. Fuller gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits and struck out seven.

Harris White pitched a scoreless sixth to clinch the win.

“(Fuller’s) one of those kids that’s just calm, collected, and he knew what he was coming in there to do,” Carter said. “(And) White is going to be our closer from now on.”

All 12 hitters in Auburn’s lineup scored at least a run — Bryan Carter, T.D. Roof and Barnes scored two — and all but two recorded hits, as Auburn put up 13.

Speaks was 2-for-4 with three RBI, White was 2-for-3 with an RBI, Fuller was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI, and Mic Roof and Matt Hall were each 1-for-2 with two RBI.

Hunter Ray was 2-for-3 with an RBI for Smiths Station, and also gave up three runs in four innings of relief after Auburn’s explosive first.

Cadenhead, Noah Herring and Trent Posey had Smiths Station’s other hits, and Cody Tramel added an RBI on a bases-loaded walk.

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