DIXIE YOUTH: Opelika falls to Troy

DOTHAN — Tripp Blackmon ripped a triple and drove in two runs, but his biggest contribution was with clutch relief pitching to help Troy stay undefeated in the Junior Dixie Boys state tournament Saturday night.

Blackmon inherited a no-out, bases-loaded situation in the fourth and got out of the inning allowing just one run to score. He escaped another bases-loaded jam in the fifth to help preserve Troy’s 7-3 victory over Opelika.

“That was big,” Troy coach Sam Kitchens said of Blackmon’s great escape in the fourth. “They could have taken it away from us and even blown it open right there.”

Troy took a 4-1 lead into the fourth inning. John Johnson, working in relief of Troy starter Blake Craft, allowed Opelika’s first three hits - consecutive singles by Zack Wood, Jordan Brown and Sawyer Stephens. Casey Senn then drew a walk to force in a run and cut Troy’s lead to 4-2.

Kitchens then turned to Blackmon, who started the game in center field. The left-hander got a pop-up in the infield, a groundout that brought in a run to make it 4-3 and ended the inning with another groundout.

Troy built an early lead. Leadoff hitter Chandler Avant ripped a triple and scored on Blackmon’s bunt. Blackmon reached on the fielder’s choice when Opelika tried to get Avant on the safety squeeze. Chase Smart reached on a base hit to the left side. Johnson’s one-out grounder scored Blackmon and gave Troy a 2-0 lead.

Troy scored two more in the second. Brian Adams singled to center and went to second on a passed ball. He scored on Craft’s single to left. Craft went to second on a wild pitch and scored on Blackmon’s triple to right field, giving Troy a 4-0 lead.

Opelika scored an unearned run off Craft in the third. Trey Adkins walked, stole second and scored on a throwing error.

Johnson relieved Craft at that point. Johnson got out of the inning by snaring a screaming line drive by Nick Constan, who pitched five innings for Opelika.

“I didn’t even see if he caught it,” Kitchens said of Constan’s liner right back at Johnson. “He made a great play there. Out defense played pretty well again. That’s the key, to keep building on each win, keep improving.”

After Opelika cut it to 4-3 in the top of the fourth, Troy answered with an unearned run in the bottom of the inning. Avant doubled. With two outs, he stole third and came home when the low throw bounced away from Sawyer Stephens.

Troy scored twice in the sixth off reliever Lane Hodges. Adams walked and eventually scored on a bases-loaded walk. Craft doubled and scored on a fielder’s choice groundout by Smartt.

Opelika scored its final run in the seventh. Constan hit a double and scored on Wood’s single. Wood, Brown and Stephens had two hits each in the loss.

Avant hit a double and a triple for Troy. Craft doubled and singled.

Troy plays at 8 p.m. tonight against Hueytown, which defeated Hartselle Friday night and got a bye Saturday.