By By BRUCE HIXON Sports Editor
On one hand, they were probably fortunate to get a split considering they scored just three runs on the day.
Then again, Saturday's split for Brewton American Legion Post 79 at Jefferson Davis Community College was a bit frustrating due to the lack of the timely big hit in its setback.
Brewton had just enough offense to reward Kyle Reed for his fine pitching gem in a 2-1 win over Andalusia in the first game of the day.
Reed did not allow a hit until the fourth inning before he settled for a complete game three-hitter with eight strikeouts and no walks.
"Kyle threw an outstanding game. A big key for his success was he threw strikes," Brewton coach Joey Turner said.
Brewton looked as if it might be in store for a big offensive day when its first three batters of the game reached.
Clay Mather began a three-hit game and a four-hit day day with a single. After R.J. Thompson walked, Reed helped his pitching cause when his RBI single put Post 79 on top 1-0.
After the fast start, Brewton's offense was quickly shut down, as 13 of its next 15 batters were retired. Mather had a leadoff single in the fourth inning and Eli Cook was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning, but that was it during that stretch.
That left Reed little room for error and ironically it was an error that helped Andalusia tie the game in the top of the sixth inning. A single, a throwing error, an intentional walk and a wild pitch allowed the visitors to score the tying run.
Brewton's offense was finally able to regain its spark in the bottom of the sixth inning. Jacob Salter led off with a single and moved up a base from an error on a pickoff throw. Mather's third single of the game sent him to third and an RBI single by Thompson brought him in with what proved to be the game-winner.
Brewton had its chances to complete a sweep against Dothan in the nightcap, but the lack of a big hit proved to be its downfall. Post 79 stranded at least one runner in every inning except one and left 11 total runners for the game.
Brewton scored its lone run in the bottom of the first inning. Mather struck out, but reached safely on a wild pitch. Reed continued his big day with his second RBI hit, this one a double, that plated Mather and gave Post 79 a 1-0 lead.
That lead did not last long, as Dothan scored both the tying and go-ahead run in the second inning with a walk and three singles against Brewton hurler Chris Graham.
Dothan extended that lead to 3-1 in the fourth inning and a three-run fifth inning accounted for the final margin.
"We continued to make some progress. We struggled to score runs, but Mather had four hits on the day and both Reed and Salter each had three. We just couldn't get the big hits when we needed them," Turner said.
Brewton was supposed to have had a rematch against Andalusia and Dothan Sunday at Andalusia, but those contests were washed out. Post 79 played at Woodham (Fla.) Tuesday in a game added to the original schedule.
Brewton begins play at the Circle City Classic in Dothan Friday with games against Crestview at 11 a.m. and Bay County at 6:30 p.m. The tournament continues Saturday where Post 79 hooks up with Dothan at 4:30 p.m. and South Tuscalossa at 7 p.m.
Game one
Andalusia 000 001 0 – 1 3 0
Brewton 100 001 X – 2 7 3
Game two
Dothan 020 130 0 – 6 9 1
Brewton 100 000 0 – 1 8 0