By By Jeff Byrd / staff writer
July 16, 2002
PHILADELPHIA On Friday night, Philadelphia Dixie Youth All-Star Donnie Tabb hurt the West Lauderdale All-Stars with his bat hitting a solo home run to account for the game's only run in Philly's 1-0 win.
In Monday night's championship game for the District 4 Dixie Youth Majors Division Tournament, Tabb picked up the tab with his pitching arm lifting Philadelphia to a 7-5 victory.
Philadelphia finished the six-team tournament unbeaten at 4-0 and will advance on to the State Dixie Youth Majors Tournament set for Bear Pen Park in Cleveland. West Lauderdale ends tourney play with a 2-2 record.
After a shaky first inning, Tabb settled in and strung together five scoreless innings to close out the game. He did not allow a runner to reach second base after the first inning.
All five of West Lauderdale's runs came in its first at bat thanks largely to three Philly errors and hits by Tyler Richardson and Stephen Williams.
Philly came back to tie the game at 5-5 with three runs in the second. Zack Williamson got a hit to right to score Nigel Gibson. Then an infield throwing error led Jonathan Jenkins and Williamson to come in to tie the game at 5-5.
In the Philly third, Wauseka York smacked a one-out double which led to an intentional walk to Philly clean-up hitter Michael Tullos. A fielders choice erased York at third but Carlos Stephens was able to come through with a single to left scoring Tullos for the go-ahead run at 6-5.
In the fourth, Gibson reached on a fielders choice and then scored on a double by Williamson to make it 7-5.
Tabb took it from there. He allowed leadoff singles to Stephen Williams in the fifth and to Hawk Seal in the sixth but both runners were erased on fielders choices to second.
Richie McAlister said his West Lauderdale team tried some strategy in battling the strong Philly pitching. The club was no-hit on Friday night by Tullos.
Tabb finished with seven strike outs and did not issue a walk while scattering four hits.
Philly had eight hits including a team high two from its No. 11 hitter in Williamson who also drove in two runs.
Zack Goforth, Tabb and Kyle Chandler got their hits in Philly's two-run first inning.
Tyler Richardson took the loss for West Lauderdale going the first four innings. He allowed seven runs off eight hits.
Williams led West with two hits and a RBI. Richardson drove in a run off his hit while Steven Hudson and Ethan Womack had the other RBIs for West Lauderdale.