By Staff
Their 1-3 record may not sound overly impressive. On the other hand, considering that one win was over one of the top programs in this part of the state and they played the weekend shorthanded, the start of the season had some good moments for the Brewton American Legion Post 79 baseball team.
Brewton began its campaign Saturday in Dothan with a 10-4 setback to Montgomery in the opener and an 11-4 loss to host Dothan in the nightcap.
In the first game, Brewton took a 2-0 lead in the first inning before Montgomery scored 10 unanswered runs over the next three frames to take control.
Post 79 was hurt by six errors and 10 men left on base. Brewton also managed just four hits, as Jacob Salter, Jordan Ball, Eli Cook and Joseph Turner all had one. Chris Graham picked up an RBI with a bases loaded walk.
Justin White suffered the loss, as he went the distance and allowed eight hits.
The second game against Dothan followed a similar pattern. After Brewton took an early 1-0 lead and the game was still tied 2-2 headed into the bottom of the third inning, Dothan reeled off nine unanswered runs over the next four innings to pull away.
Cook had a pair of hits to lead Brewton's offense, while Jordan Ball belted a two-run homer. Jordan Cauley, Graham, Kyle Reed and White all added a hit.
Reed suffered the loss on the mound, as he went the first five innings.
Brewton avenged the loss to Dothan Sunday, as it notched a 6-5 triumph in the first game of a doubleheader played at Ozark.
Post 79 built a 3-0 lead through three innings and had a 6-1 advantage through four frames before Dothan rallied with a pair of runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
Patrick Sorrells got the win, as he went the distance on a seven-hitter and struck out four. He also aided his cause at the plate with a pair of hits.
Graham contributed a single and drew two walks. Ball had a double and drove in two runs. Salter had a single and also had two RBIs. Cauley added a single.
In the weekend finale, Brewton dropped a 4-2 decision to Wiregrass.
Brewton grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but never scored again. Wiregrass tied the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third and took the lead for good with two more in the fourth.
Losing hurler Brandon Douglas only allowed five hits in five innings of work before Cook finished up.
Douglas, Reed, Ball, Graham, Cauley and Salter all had one hit for Brewton.
"The win over Dothan was big. We've never beaten them before. We only had 10 players available and one of them, Joseph Turner, got hurt in the first inning of the first game Sunday so we had no reserves left for that doubleheader. We were especially shorthanded on the left side of our infield," Brewton coach Joey Turner said. "Our fielding hurt us at times, especially the first day. Our pitching was fair overall although Brandon Douglas threw a great game despite a loss against Wiregrass."
Brewton American Legion Post 79 will have to wait a little while longer to make its home debut, as Wednesday's home twinbill against Prattville has been postponed.
Brewton's next scheduled action and home date is Saturday at Jefferson Davis Community College. Post 79 will take on Andalusia at 11 a.m. and Dothan at 4 p.m.
Saturday's game one
Montgomery 032 500 0 – 10 8 4
Brewton 200 002 0 – 4 4 6
Game two
Brewton 011 000 2 – 4 7 1
Dothan 022 133 X – 11 18 0
Sunday's game one
Dothan 000 122 0 – 5 7 2
Brwton 102 300 0 – 6 7 2
Game two
Brewton 200 000 0 – 2 6 0
Wiregrass 002 200 X – 4 5 1