Druid Hills courtesy runner Ryder Sibly (11) slides past Southwest DeKalb second baseman Savion Borden for a steal during the Red Devils’ extra inning win in Region 6-4A play. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Druid Hills relief pitcher Oliver Myers pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the eighth to secure a 4-1 Region 6-4A win over the Southwest DeKalb Panthers at Southwest DeKalb on Wednesday.
The Red Devils (12-5, 4-0) scored three runs in the top of the extra frame to go in front 4-1. An RBI single to right by Alex Balsamo broke the tie as Sean Crawford crossed the plate to make it 2-1. An error and wild pitch allowed two more runs to cross the plate giving the Red Devils the three-run cushion heading into the bottom of the eighth.
Southwest DeKalb (5-6, 1-1) greeted Myers, who had entered with two out in the bottom of the sixth, with back-to-back singles by Kameron Scott and Brishaun Reese to lead off the bottom of the eighth.
Myers coaxed a fielder’s choice for the first out but loaded the bases as he hit Allister Jennings to load the bases. He then geared up and got back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.
The game was a no-hit pitching duel between starters Dominic Butler (SW DeKalb) and Ryan Horner (Druid Hills) through four innings as only two baserunners advanced to third (one for each team) over the four innings.
Druid Hills’ Noah Brocklebank broke up the no-hitter with a two-out single into center in the top of the fifth. Brandon Parker put the Red Devils up 1-0 with a double to deep left-center field before a run-down ended the inning.
Horner pushed on to the sixth inning and after a walk, error and a sacrifice fly by Montagus Phillips scored Scott to knot the game at 1-1. Myers entered with two outs and agave up a single to Jennings, the first hit of the game for the Panthers, before getting a flyout to right field to end the inning with a tie game.
Southwest DeKalb batter Brishaun Reese (11) fouls off a pitch as Druid Hills catcher Jake Brown watches the ball. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Druid Hills got a runner to second in the top of the seventh before Butler got a strikeout and a groundout to end the threat. Southwest DeKalb threatened in the bottom of the seventh as Myers gave up a walk to lead off the innings.
Myers followed with a strikeout and catcher Jake Brown picked the runner off at first for the second out of the inning. Butler singled before Myers enticed a fly ball to end the inning.
Myers went the final 2 1/3 innings allowing four hits, no runs, no walks and striking out three to pick up the win in relief of starter Ryan Horner. Horner went 5 2/3 innings striking out nine, walking three and allowing no hits and one unearned run.
Dominic Butler went seven innings allowing just one earned run and five hits while striking out four and walking five. Kameron Scott pitched one inning allowing three runs (2 earned) and two hits to take the loss in relief.