Opp Majors stay alive; Short hits walk-off in 9th
Published 11:46 pm Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Chase Short hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning to help lead the Opp Majors past Greenville earlier tonight in the Dixie Majors District 6 Baseball Tournament at the Opp Sports Complex.
Like all season, the Bobcats were struggling to string together some hits.
However, they got them at the right time.
The Bobcats trailed 5-2 in the bottom of the seventh, but managed to tie it on a two-out, two-run double from DaKota King and a Short RBI double.
Short almost scored the game-winning run at the plate, but a stellar throw from left-center got him after a hit from Judd Owens.
What really helped propel Opp to escape tournament elimination and its season’s end was quality pitching from Russell Moseley.
The LBWCC Saint and Opp graduate pitched six solid innings and only allowed one run on six hits while striking out eight batters. The only run that came in on Moseley’s watch was in the top of the sixth, when Greenville scored on an over throw.
According to Dixie Majors rules, pitchers can only throw 105 pitches in one game. During each game, tournament officials keep up with the pitch count and will alert the team once its pitcher is through.
Moseley finished in fine style as he struck out the last batter on his 105th pitch for the second out in the top of the ninth inning.
King came in and struck out the side, and eventually got the win by only facing one batter.
In the deciding inning, Florala’s John Bess, also a Saint, led the bottom of the ninth with a walk; and Andalusia’s Quinton Maddox bunted him over on a sacrifice bunt.
Bess then moved to third on a wild pitch, and King walked to put runners at the corners.
Short laced the first pitch that came his way at the left-field wall.
Short finished the game with three of Opp’s five hits. He had two doubles. King went 1-for-5.
Opp scored two runs in the first inning, but Greenville led 4-2 after the third inning, once Moseley came in.
With this win, Opp will face Zion Chapel tomorrow night at 7:30 for the district title. The Bobcats also won a berth to play in the state tournament if they so chose.