CHILDERSBURG, Ala. – The Childersburg Tigers hosted the Fayetteville Wolves on Monday night at Garland Justice field, and few could have predicted how the game would unravel.
Both teams wanted to play each other before playoffs begin this Friday, April 21, so the game saw eight pitchers getting work, five from the Tigers and three from the Wolves.
Childersburg got a run in the first inning in the form of Lane Dennis. Head Coach Matt Collier’s Wolves tied it up in the top of the third when Zeke DeLoach scored on a double by Kai Tubbs, but that tie wouldn’t last long as the Tigers struck back quickly.
For Tiger Head Coach Taylor Craven, the Cats’ Payton Tanner scored and then Jomarlen Woods added to it as he was pinch running for J.D. Oakes when Tae Truss hit a sacrifice and Elijah Swain grabbed a base knock.
The Tigers would hold that 3-1 lead until the top of the fifth when the Wolves walked twice, got another hit, and Zeke DeLoach scored for the second time trimming the cats lead to 3-2.
That was the score all the way to the seventh inning when the dramatics would take place.
In the top of the inning with two outs and DeLoach on first, Brady Butler came to the plate and smacked a two run homer to give the Wolves their first lead at 4-3.
Payton Tanner would single for the home team in the bottom half of the seventh but was forced out by J.D. Oakes.
Fayetteville kept the runner at first as Marlon Cook came in to get the save and a 4-3 win over the Tigers.
Childersburg will host Straughn on Friday in the first round of the 3A state playoffs. First pitch of Game 1 is set for 4:30 p.m. (weather permitting) with David McCurley and Robert Sprayberry calling the action on the Tiger Sports Network on KiX 100.3.
The Fayetteville Wolves will have one more tune up game at Sylacauga on Tuesday evening before hosting Mars Hill Bible in the 2A playoffs on Friday. The Wolves’ playoff series can be heard online by going to RadioAlabamaSports.net and clicking the menu icon at the bottom right of the page. From there, select RadioAlabama Special Events Channel 1 to listen.
