By By Marty Stamper/The Meridian Star
May 1, 2001
UNION St. Aloysius erupted for nine runs and seven hits over the final two innings to take an 11-4 victory over Union in the third game of their best-of-three series Monday.
The Flashes, 22-3, will advance to the Class 1A South State championship series with Division 6-1A rival Lake, which used a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to nip Mercy Cross 6-5 in Monday night's other 1A South State semifinal series.
Union, 22-13, led 2-0 through three innings after getting a solo homer from Justin Darby in the first inning and a solo homer from B.J. Norton in the third.
St. Aloysius, which had only one baserunner off Darby in the first three innings, picked up a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Blake Warnock singled and Charlie Amborn reached on an error. Aaron George and Ryan Hearn followed with RBI-singles to even the score at 2-2.
The game wouldn't stay tied long as the Yellow Jackets got two runs in the bottom of the fourth to go up 4-2. Darby led off with a single and scored all the way from first base on Jody Blount's double to right-center. Blount scored on a sacrifice fly by Danny Caine.
Neither team scored in the fifth, but the Flashes crossed the plate three times in the top of the sixth to go up 5-4. Amborn led off with a double just inside the third base bag. After a single by George, Hearn hit a single to score Amborn. Alex Frisbee reached on a throwing error to tie the contest with a single by Walker Hengst putting St. Aloysius up 5-4 and chasing Darby from the mound.
Hearn retired Union in order in the bottom of the sixth.
The Flashes then racked up six runs in the top of the seventh to break the game open. Warnock had a double in the inning with Hearn smashing a two-run double. Frisbee followed with a two-run single.
Union got its first two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh only to have one picked off first base for the second out.
Norton and Darby both had a single and a homer for Union. Blount had a double with Zack Robinson and Jeremy Hamm both having a single.
Hearn went 3-for-4 with four RBIs to lead the Flashes. George went 3-for-3. Warnock had a single and a double with Amborn adding a double.
Hearn (10-1) went the distance to get the win. He allowed seven hits, but did not issue a walk and struck out five.
Darby (8-3) took the loss, giving up five runs, three of which were earned, on eight hits and a walk. He struck out five. Blount gave up four runs, all earned, in an inning.
Marty Stamper is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at mstamper@themeridianstar.com.