By By BRUCE HIXON – Sports Editor
Brewton's bid for a return trip to the state tournament in the 9 and 10-year-old division came up one run short in Saturday's district championship round at Andalusia when it fell to Opp 7-6.
Opp opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the top half of the first inning. Kyle Marshall and Tyler Weeks both walked. Marshall scored on a passed ball and Weeks scored on a throwing error by the pitcher to make it 2-0.
Brewton, which would have had to beat Opp twice to win the title, came right back in the bottom half of the first inning. Jacob Fillmore reached on an error by the first baseman. Kevin Davis followed with a single and Rasheem Thomas's single scored Fillmore to make it 2-1. Davis and Thomas each scored on passed balls and Brewton took the lead 3-2. With two outs, Aaron Yuhasz and Ryan Hunt each walked. Yuhasz later stole home when Opp tried to catch Hunt on a steal attempt at second base. That run extended Brewton's lead to 4-2.
Opp came back to take the lead in the top of the second inning. Brewton pitcher Kevin Davis issued three consecutive walks and Weeks cashed them in with a two-run single to tie the game at 4-4. Keith Edgar completed the scoring in the inning when he scored on a passed ball that gave Opp a 5-4 lead.
Once again Brewton answered right back. In the bottom of the second, William Whittle led off with a single, Rob Stokes followed with a single and Fillmore walked to load the bases. Jesse Williams, who pinch ran for Whittle, scored on Davis's sacrifice to tie the game 5-5.
Rasheem Thomas walked to load the bases with one out and Wes Maddox hit a flyball to right. It appeared that Stokes had scored from third on a sacrifice fly, but Opp appealed the tag and Stokes was called out for leaving too early to end the inning.
Opp took its third lead of the game, this time a 6-5 advantage, in the top of the third when Mason Wood walked and scored on Hayden Parkers' RBI single.
Opp added what proved to be a decisive insurance run in the top of the sixth when Holt Hall singled and scored on two wild pitches and a passed ball to go up 7-5.
Brewton tried to rally in the bottom of the sixth when Hunt reached on an error by the second baseman and Stokes drove him home to cut Opp's lead to 7-6.
That was far as the rally went, as Stokes and the potential tying run was left stranded at second base.
Davis was the losing pitcher for Brewton, as he scattered only three hits with 11 strikeouts. Only three of Opp's seven runs were earned.
At Andalusia
Opp 231 001 – 7 3 2
Brewton 410 001 – 6 6 2