By By Robby Atkinson / staff writer
May 11, 2004
ENTERPRISE The Enterprise Bulldogs have rode the arm of junior left-hander Wade Weathers throughout the Class 2A playoffs.
That ride continued on Monday night as Weathers tossed a complete game and collected 15 strikeouts as the Enterprise Bulldogs secured the Class 2A South State Championship with a 9-3 win over North Forrest Monday night at Bulldog Field.
Weathers was not only the highlight for the Bulldogs on the mound, but at the plate as well. Weathers added a two-run home run in the fourth inning to go along with the spectacular night on the mound.
Enterprise will now move on to the Class 2A State Championship series which begins on Saturday at Bulldog Field. The Bulldogs will host either
Hamilton or Mooreville from the North State Championship series for game one at 7 p.m.
The Bulldogs pounded out 11 hits and took advantage of six errors by the Eagles on the infield. North Forrest wasn't going to be intimidated by the tough lefty from Enterprise, as the Eagles scored one run quickly in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead over the Bulldogs. Ben Wade got the inning started with a double off the wall in the left field and later scored on a double by Kyle Maxie.
Enterprise (25-7) answered with three runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 3-1 lead over North Forrest. Lance Irby got the offense started with a single and Zeb Swain followed with a single of his own to put a pair of runners aboard for the Bulldogs. The first run crossed the plate on a fielder's choice by Weathers and the second came around on an RBI single by Adam Simpson to make the score 2-1 in favor of EHS. The final run of the inning scored thanks to a throwing error by third baseman Kyle Bailey to extend the Enterprise lead to 3-1.
North Forrest cut it to 3-2 in the top of the second when a run scored on a fielder's choice by Marlon Sims.
Enterprise came back with another pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning to push the score to 5-2. Swain drove in the first run for the Bulldogs on an RBI single to left field and the second scored on
another throwing error by Bailey at third base. The next big blow for Enterprise would come in the bottom of the third inning to give the Bulldogs a four-run lead.
Senior Dennis Watson delivered a towering solo home run to center field to give the Bulldogs a 6-2 lead.
The next big home run shot would come from Weathers to give Enterprise a comfortable 8-2 lead over the Eagles.
Enterprise added one final run in the fifth inning on an error by the Eagles and North Forrest was able to push one final run across in the sixth inning thanks to an RBI single by Jake Triggs.
Marcus Howell took the loss for North Forrest going seven innings and allowing nine runs, while collecting four strikeouts.