Somerset — In a battle of momentum, the Wayne County All-Stars slugged their way to a 5-3 Area 1 title win over the Pulaski All-Stars with a sixth inning rally.
Pulaski ace pitcher Eric Jones and Wayne’s hurler Charlie Dixon went head-to-head in the first four innings with two shutout performances.
Pulaski’s Jones only allowed one hit, no runs and struck out seven batters through five complete innings of play. Meanwhile, Dixon allowed only two hits and struck out five Pulaski batters through four innings.
But it was in the bottom of the fifth inning where the Pulaski All-Stars finally got to Dixon to score three big runs. After Christian Coots reached base on a walk and Justin Smith singled, Cody Johnson laid down a perfect bunt. The ball was fielded by the Wayne second baseman, who made an errant throw to third base allowing Coots and Smith to score. On the Wayne error, Johnson made it to second base and he later stole third base. Blake Burton reached base on a infield bunt single to score Johnson from third.
And after five innings of scoreless ball, the Pulaski All-Stars’ lead of three runs seemed golden.
But it was not.
Facing their last three outs of the game, the Wayne County All-Stars looked for the knockout punch and they found in the bats of Charlie Dixon and Logan Garner.
Wayne’s Carson Staples and Trey Blevins hit back-to-back singles. Then, Dixon hit a monster shot over the left center fence to tie the game up at 3-3.
Pulaski hopes dropped, but did not sink knowing they still had a chance to break the tie.
But Garner’s two-run homer to straightaway center put the Wayne County All-Stars up 5-3 and greatly diminished the Pulaski’s hope of an Area title.
Garner followed up his heroic homer with a relief pitching performance to secure the 5-3 win for Wayne County.
Pulaski was led in hitting by Justin Smith, who went 2-for-3 and scored a run. Blake Burton went 1-for-3 with one RBI. Kyle Peyton and Eric Jones had one hit apiece.
Pulaski will now have to work its way through the losers’ bracket for a trip to the district tourney.
WC 0 0 0 0 0 5 — 5 7 1
PC 0 0 0 0 3 0 — 3 5 0
2B — Smith. RBI — Burton.
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Related Photos
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Pulaski 11 & 12 year old all-star infielder Blake Burton fires to first base after fielding a grounder during Wednesday’s Area 1 Finals against Wayne County. Burton had an RBI bunt single which gave Pulaski a temporary lead until Wayne scored five runs in the sixth inning to win the game. Steve Cornelius Photo
Pulaski All-Stars fall to Wayne County in Area Finals
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