Jags tame Tigers, 9-2
The Northridge Jaguars hosted the Demopolis Tigers on a beautiful, breezy day at The Ridge. Up by one run, 3-2, going into the bottom of the fourth inning, the Jags tacked on four runs to pull out to a lead they would not relinquish and added a couple insurance runs in the sixth to secure a 9-2 victory over the Tigers.
After retiring the Tigers, in order, in the top of the first, the Jags took a 1-0 lead in the bottom half. After two outs, Milo Obradovich drew a walk to set things in motion. After Obradovich stole second, Jack Sanderson drew a walk of his own. Thomas Woolf singled to center, scoring Obradovich and moving Sanderson to second. A fly ball to right ended the inning for the Jags, holding a 1-0. lead.
The scoring column was silent in the second inning, but the Tigers scored two and jumped out to a brief 2-1 lead in the top of the third. Trailing for the first time in their last five games, Mayson Elam led off with a single to center, then stole second. Cade Senn singled to right, allowing Elam to get to third. Obradovich plated Elam with a sacrifice fly to left, while Senn advanced to second. Sanderson’s grounder to second resulted in an error, which allowed Senn to score the go-ahead run for the Jags. That would be it for the Jags’ scoring in the third, but they held a 3-2 lead.
The Jags held the Tigers in check in the top of the fourth and extended their lead by four in the bottom half. After giving up two outs, the Jags got started when Elam was hit by pitch. Typically, Elam stole second and Senn followed with a base on balls. Obradovich doubled to left, scoring Elam and Senn. Not to be outdone, Sanderson notched a double of this own to left, scoring Obradovich. Woolf followed with a single to left, allowing Sanderson to cross the plate. A pop-up resulted in the third Jags’ out of the inning, but the Jags had padded their lead to 7-2.
The scoreboard was quiet until the bottom of the sixth, when the Jags added to more insurance runs. Elam led off with a single, but was picked off at first. Senn doubled to right and scored when Obradovich singled to left. Sanderson followed with a single, which allowed Obradovich – who had stolen second – to score what would be the Jags final run of the game.
Burns Brumfield relieved Woolf in the top of the seventh and closed out the side in order, giving the Jags the 9-2 victory.
The first five in the Jags’ lineup contributed two hits each – Elam, Senn, Obradovich, Sanderson and Woolf. Evan Malone, Sawyer Thompson and Anthony Messina collected one hit each. Obradovich led the Jags’ RBI category with four. Sanderson and Woolf tallied two RBIs each. Obradovich and Senn collected three runs scored each, with Elam following with two and Sanderson with one run scored.
Woolf started on the hill and got the win, striking out seven, walking two, while giving up two runs on three hits. Brumfield struck out the first batter he faced.
As for the playoffs, the Jags are officially slated to host Saraland on Friday at The Ridge. In typical format, Friday’s schedule is a double header, with an “if needed” game on Saturday, should the teams split on Friday night. Make plans NOW to come out and cheer on the Jags! Start time for Game 1 will be updated, when that information is made official.