Roswell Tourney Qualifying Round Recaps

Thursday Will went 2 – 3 in the Titans 10 – 7 first-round tournament victory, scoring two runs. He hit one line drive to the left-centerfield fence, a hit he said could’ve been a home run had he got under it a little. Will said he was robbed of a third hit on a sharply hit ball the second-baseman made a good play on. He caught the last three innings.

Will’s team hung tough in their 6 pm Friday game against an excellent Big Shanty Bats team, before losing 9 – 4. He was one of only two Titans to reach base twice. Will stole two bases and an RBI. He played third base the first two innings and caught a popup. Will played shortstop the third inning, and caught the last two innings.

The Titans won game two of the Friday doubleheader, besting the Kennesaw Warriors in a 7 – 3 pitcher’s duel. Six of the first seven Titans scored in the top of the first. Batting cleanup, Will singled to left with the fourth straight Titan hit, driving in run number three. The Warriors then changed pitchers. After Will scored on a wild pitch, the new pitcher struck out 13 of the next 24 batters…throwing a whopping 108 pitches. Will and Audie were the only two Titans not to strike out.

Will also walked in the second inning. Will played the first four innings at shortstop and easily handled the only grounder hit to him, for an out at first.

With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the fourth, Will was brought in to face the top of the order…particularly the tough leadoff man Michael, who had already reached twice with a walk and a deep double to left-center. Michael hit a fly ball to right. As the runner at third tagged up, right-fielder Kendle caught the fly and fired home. The strong throw in made the runner hesitate, but the throw came in low and skipped under catcher Trey’s mitt, rolling away to the backstop. Trey chased the ball down and tossed to Will at the plate, but the throw was behind the runner. Will caught the ball and swung his glove around to the right, and barely tagged the runner before he touched the plate. Double play, and the Warriors were help scoreless.

Will pitched two more scoreless innings to secure the victory. He struck out three, and 28 of his 43 pitches were strikes. By finishing the tournament qualifying round with a record of 2 – 1, the Titans were seeded eighth out of 16 teams.