Centreville dismantles top ranked BrookhavenSouthern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
The Centreville Tigers scored five runs and sent ten batters to the plate in their half of the 1st inning en-route to an 11-1 win over top ranked Brookhaven last night in Centreville. Sophomore Cliff Hurst pitched a complete game while scattering seven hits and striking out seven to improve to 9-1 as Centreville takes a 1-0 series lead.
Centreville jumped all over Brookhaven ace Tripp Jolly early. Hunter Travis drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a Brad Jelks single to right field. A passed ball allowed Travis and Jelks to advance to 3rd and 2nd and Travis scored on a second consecutive passed ball to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Jolly walked Tyler Towles which brought up Cliff Hurst who delivered a stand up double to left field scoring both Jelks and Towles. With two outs, and Jolly struggling to get out of the inning, both Zach Sinclair and Corey Gaulden drew walks to load the bases. Centreville added two more runs as sophomore Ethan Noland drove a single to center field scoring courtesy runner JT Doughty and Zach Sinclair to put the Tigers up 5-0.
The Centreville Tigers scored five runs and sent ten batters to the plate in their half of the 1st inning en-route to an 11-1 win over top ranked Brookhaven last night in Centreville. Sophomore Cliff Hurst pitched a complete game while scattering seven hits and striking out seven to improve to 9-1 as Centreville takes a 1-0 series lead.
Centreville jumped all over Brookhaven ace Tripp Jolly early. Hunter Travis drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a Brad Jelks single to right field. A passed ball allowed Travis and Jelks to advance to 3rd and 2nd and Travis scored on a second consecutive passed ball to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Jolly walked Tyler Towles which brought up Cliff Hurst who delivered a stand up double to left field scoring both Jelks and Towles. With two outs, and Jolly struggling to get out of the inning, both Zach Sinclair and Corey Gaulden drew walks to load the bases. Centreville added two more runs as sophomore Ethan Noland drove a single to center field scoring courtesy runner JT Doughty and Zach Sinclair to put the Tigers up 5-0.
(Above) Centreville pitcher Cliff Hurst and 1st baseman Justin Bellue hold a Brookhaven runner in checkBrookhaven got on the board in the top of the 3rd inning when Bubba Keene sent a two out 3-2 pitch to center field to score Hunter Franklin and trim the deficit to 5-1 but the Cougars couldn’t take advantage of scoring opportunities as they left seven runners on base from the 3rd inning on.
Centreville added two more runs in their half of the 3rd inning. With two out Zach Sinclair drew a walk and Corey Gaulden, Ethan Nolan and Hunter Travis hit consecutive singles that scored Sinclair and Gaulden to increase the lead to 7-1.
Two more runs in the 4th inning gave Centreville a 9-1 cushion. Then in the bottom of the 6th, with Brad Jelks on first base, Cliff Hurst smashed a two run homer over the left field wall to draw the curtain early on Brookhaven as the fourth ranked Tigers took an 11-1 win at home.
(Above) Centreville's Brad Jelks gets thrown out at 2nd base by Brookhaven catcher Landon Nettles“I told our guys after the game that I was so proud of them,” said Centreville head coach Jason Horne. “They’ve come together as a team.”
Centreville pounded out ten hits on the night. Cliff Hurst had a double and hit his 12th homer of the season, Ethan Nolan collected two singles as did Corey Gaulden and senior Brad Jelks had a double and single.
Brookhaven was led by Donovan Lorraine’s two singles.
Centreville improves to 22-9 on the season while Brookhaven falls to 25-8. The series now shifts to Brookhaven on Thursday for game two and, if necessary, game three.
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Post game comments:
Centreville head coach Jason Horne
*How would you sum up the performance of Cliff Hurst tonight?
“Cliff Hurst has been there for us all year on the mound, he’s our number one. He has a torn up elbow but he’s a battler and a scrapper. He is going to get it done anyway he can.”
*Were you happy with the way your guys hit the ball tonight?
“Tripp Jolly is an outstanding pitcher and Brookhaven is a great ball team. We swung it well tonight.”
“You always want to peak late in the season and I think we’re where we want to be, we just have to take care of business Thursday and get to that state championship.”
*What did you tell your guys what they can expect Thursday?
“This is our third time ever to be in a south state championship and I told my guys that from here on out it was going to be one run games, it will be close games and we have to battle, battle, battle and play it to the end and see how it turns out.”
*Who will start game two on Thursday at Brookhaven?
“Brad Jelks will be starting game two on Thursday. He’s a senior and a guy that really came on late. He wasn’t in the rotation during the first part of the season but he’s one of those battlers also.” (Photo at top of page) Centreville players maul teammate Cliff Hurst after a 6th inning two run homer
Centreville head coach Jason Horne
*How would you sum up the performance of Cliff Hurst tonight?
“Cliff Hurst has been there for us all year on the mound, he’s our number one. He has a torn up elbow but he’s a battler and a scrapper. He is going to get it done anyway he can.”
*Were you happy with the way your guys hit the ball tonight?
“Tripp Jolly is an outstanding pitcher and Brookhaven is a great ball team. We swung it well tonight.”
“You always want to peak late in the season and I think we’re where we want to be, we just have to take care of business Thursday and get to that state championship.”
*What did you tell your guys what they can expect Thursday?
“This is our third time ever to be in a south state championship and I told my guys that from here on out it was going to be one run games, it will be close games and we have to battle, battle, battle and play it to the end and see how it turns out.”
*Who will start game two on Thursday at Brookhaven?
“Brad Jelks will be starting game two on Thursday. He’s a senior and a guy that really came on late. He wasn’t in the rotation during the first part of the season but he’s one of those battlers also.” (Photo at top of page) Centreville players maul teammate Cliff Hurst after a 6th inning two run homer
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For photos from the game click on the link:
