National cruises on
By Steve Behr
Watauga National brought out the big bats in its 17-1 victory over Avery in the District 7 11-12 year old Little League All-Star Tournament Saturday at Optimist Park.
Three Watauga players — Hunter Isaacs, Clay Mizner and Matt Lambert — belted home runs. Isaacs and Mizner hit their home runs, both solo shots, back-to-back in the first inning.
Watauga National’s Ian Watts slides safely into home during Watauga’s win over Avery Saturday. Photo by Steve Behr |
Lambert added a two-run shot in the fourth inning that gave Watauga a 17-1 lead. Watauga banged out 12 hits and took advantage of four Avery errors in advancing into the next round of the loser’s bracket. Watauga is slated to play Tuesday, but does not know against whom or where the game will be.
“Even in batting practice, we’ve been hitting the ball well,” Watauga National coach Tommy Gilliam said. “It just carried over into the game.”
Isaac's home run was the only hit he had, though he walked and score a run in the third and fourth innings, giving him three runs scored for the game. Mizner added an RBI double in the third and a two-run single in the fourth innings.
Lambert went 3-for-3 with a double in the first inning, a sacrifice fly in the second inning and a single in the third. Ian Watts had two hits and scored two runs, while Steadman Sauls scored two runs after reaching base on a walk in the first inning and being hit by a pitch in the fourth.
Colby Illich, Hunter Shore and Trey McNeil each hit a single and each scored after reaching base.
“The guys have been hitting the ball good,” Gilliam said. “Since we’ve started (the tournament), we’ve been hitting the ball well. Even in the first game we lost, we still put 13 runs on the board. As long as we can get out pitchers to throw strikes, I think we can compete.”
Watauga's four pitchers, Lambert, Isaacs, Andy Gilliam and Shore combined to hold Avery to one hit, though Watauga walked six Avery players. Avery's first batter of the game, Jerry Lundsford, singled, but was out at home when he tried to score on a passed ball.
Avery got its run in the third inning when Preston Childress walked, which scored Kyle Hoffman from third. Watauga’s pitchers struck out seven batters. Defensively, Watauga helped its pitchers by not committing any errors.
“In the first game, we were a little out of sync,” Tommy Gilliam said. “We really stressed last week in practice about getting where you’re supposed to be, hit your cutoffs and not give away any bases. Make them earn every base.”
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