Gwatney in semifinals of A state tourney
By Chad Matchett / Sports Editor / sports@jacksonvillepatriot.com
Friday, July 20, 2007 12:34 PM CDT
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| JASON REGNAS takes a hack at a fastball against Jonesboro (Photo by CHAD MATCHETT). |
Jacksonville’s Gwatney Chevrolet’s run toward an American Legion A state title has been 17 years in the making.
That’s how it has been since an A squad from Jacksonville had made the state tourney. This current group of ballplayers is making the most the opportunity.
The Chevy Boys were making history right off the bat, pun intended, on the opening day of the tournament at Burns Park in North Little Rock.
Jacksonville run-ruled Rogers 11-1 behind a brilliant performance on the mound by Clayton Fenton. The win was the first ever for a JacksonvilleLegion A team in the state tournament.
Gwatney’s bats were silent over the first two innings against Rogers, but came alive in a big way in the third inning.
Jeffrey Tillman started things off in the third with a single to center and was followed by infield singles from Tyler Wisdom and Terrell Brown. Tillman scored on Brown’s bunt for the first run.
Jason Regnas hit one back to the pitcher who tried to get Wisdom at home, but was a hair late.
Hayden Simpson hit a two-run double two outs later to give Jacksonville a 4-1 lead.
Jacksonville was helped by some Rogers wildness in the fourth inning as the home team added three more runs.
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| TERRELL BROWN slides safely into second base Saturday afternoon (Photo by CHAD MATCHETT). |
Rogers brought in relief pitcher Britt McKenzie, who promptly walked two batters and hit two more before being pulled.
