Russellville All-Stars complete sweep with 7-2 victory
By Staff
Scot Beard
The Russellville Little League Majors got off to a good start in the District 6 Championship Series with an 18-0 win Monday, but Tuesday's game against Tuscaloosa-Barnes was a little bit tougher.
Russellville, which scored several runs off home runs Monday, had to manufacture runs in its 7-2 win. Russellville completed the sweep of Tuscaloosa and earned a spot at the state tournament in Huntsville.
Russellville struggled at the plate in the first inning, but found its groove the second time it came to the plate.
Austin Bohannon led off the second by drawing a walk, but was retired when Nick Hicks grounded into a fielder's choice.
Hicks moved to second on a passed ball and later stole third base. The Tuscaloosa catcher tried to throw Hicks out at third, but the ball got away from the third baseman and rolled into the outfield allowing Hicks to score to put Russellville ahead 1-0.
Jacob Wallace drew a walk with two outs and scored on a double by Trevor Malone.
Russellville added to its lead in the second when Landon Oliver reached base after a pitch hit him. He moved to second on a single by Jacob Bynon and advanced to third on a passed ball.
Bohannon then doubled to score Oliver and move Bynon to third. Hicks later singled to drive Bynon home to increase Russellville's lead to 4-0.
Oliver added another run in the fourth by doubling then scoring on a double by Bohannon.
Tuscaloosa scored its first runs of the series in the bottom of the fourth when a player reached on an error and was then brought home by a two-run homer by Eddie Williams Jr. to cut Russellville's lead to 5-2.
Trevor Malone scored in the fifth and Bohannon scored in the sixth to secure the victory.
Malone finished the game with a double, two singles and an RBI while Bohannon had a double, single and two RBIs to lead Russellville.
Jacob Green and Oliver each hit a double while Green tacked on an RBI. Hicks and Zack Garrison had a single and an RBI each while Bynon and Wallace each singled.
Hunter Kiel drew a walk for Russellville.
Russellville will travel to Huntsville July 19 for the state tournament. The winner of that tournament will advance to the regional tournament.
