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The South Alabama Arrows 9U started their summer season off with a bang going 3-1 and being runners up in the gold bracket of the GSSA Back to the Diamond Tournament in Santa Rosa Beach.

First game:

Arrows – 9

Pace Prodigy – 8

The South Alabama Arrows 9U nabbed the lead late in the game in a 9-8 victory over Pace Prodigy 9U on Saturday.

The game was tied at seven with South Alabama Arrows 9U batting in the bottom of the third when Jackson Grimes grounded out, scoring one run.

Despite falling down by four runs in the first inning, Pace Prodigy 9U tried to fight back. Pace Prodigy 9U scored six runs in the failed comeback on a home run by Jornal M in the second, a single by Levi M in the third, a single by Brison in the third, a single by Asher M in the third, and a stolen base by Tyler T in the fourth.

Pace Prodigy 9U opened up scoring in the first inning, when Parker M singled on a 1-1 count, scoring one run.

Kaleb Covin led things off on the mound for South Alabama Arrows 9U. He allowed six hits and six runs over two innings, striking out three.

Houston Weant, Brock Bennett, Row Thorn, and Isaack Harkins all had one hit to lead South Alabama Arrows 9U. South Alabama Arrows 9U tore up the base paths, as six players stole at least two bases. Cooper Maynor led the way with five.

Second game:

Arrows – 14

West Florida Baseball Academy – 2

The Arrows dominated in the second game on Saturday racking up 14 on the scoreboard to get the ‘W.’

Cooper Maynor led the Arrows in hits with three. Row Thorn led the Arrows in RBIs with three. Houston Weant started and ended on the mound for the Arrows, striking out five.

Third game:

Arrows – 9

Fairhope Pirates – 7

South Alabama Arrows 9U ran off with the lead late in the game in a 9-7 victory over Fairhope Pirates 9U on Sunday.

The game was tied at six with South Alabama Arrows 9U batting in the top of the third when Jackson Grimes singled on a 0-1 count, scoring one run.

Both pitching staffs had their hands full, frequently dealing with runners on base. South Alabama Arrows 9U collected six hits and Fairhope Pirates 9U had seven.

Fairhope Pirates 9U got things moving in the first inning, when Cullen C singled on a 0-1 count, scoring one run.

South Alabama Arrows 9U tallied five runs in the second inning. The Arrow’s offense in the inning was led by Jackson, Halton Grimes, and Brock Bennett, all sending runners across the plate with RBIs in the inning.

Fairhope Pirates 9U scored three runs in the second inning. Cooper Maynor got the start for South Alabama Arrows 9U. He surrendered seven runs on seven hits over three and a third innings, striking out seven.

South Alabama Arrows 9U scattered six hits in the game. Jackson and Halton Grimes managed multiple hits for South Alabama Arrows 9U. Halton and Jackson Grimes each collected two hits to lead South Alabama Arrows 9U. The South Alabama Arrows 9U were sure-handed in the field and didn’t commit a single error. Houston Weant had the most chances in the field with nine. Jackson Grimes led South Alabama Arrows 9U with three stolen bases, as they ran wild on the base paths with 12 stolen bases.

Championship game:

Molino Impact – 9

Arrows – 6

South Alabama Arrows 9U watched the game slip away early and couldn’t recover in a 9-6 loss to Molino Impact 9U on Sunday.

Molino Impact 9U took the lead on a groundout in the first inning.

South Alabama Arrows 9U collected six hits and Molino Impact 9U had nine in the high-scoring affair.

Molino Impact 9U fired up the offense in the first inning, when Kaleb A grounded out, scoring one run.

South Alabama Arrows 9U put up five runs in the fourth inning. Farley Brannon, Jackson Grimes, and Halton Grimes all drove in runs in the frame.

Molino Impact 9U scored three runs in the fourth inning. Molino Impact 9U’s big inning was driven by singles by Easton U and Justin K.

Row Thorn toed the rubber for South Alabama Arrows 9U. He went three and a third innings, allowing eight runs on seven hits and striking out three. Farley Brannon threw two-thirds of an inning in relief out of the bullpen.

Farley Brannon led South Alabama Arrows 9U with two hits in three at-bats. South Alabama Arrows 9U didn’t commit a single error in the field. Houston Weant had five chances in the field, the most on the team.

Molino Impact 9U collected nine hits on the day. Easton and Justin all collected multiple hits for Molino Impact 9U. Cornelious B led Molino Impact 9U with two stolen bases, as they ran wild on the base paths with nine stolen bases.

Thorn was selected MVP for the entire tournament.