Avery Baseball playoff update at Murphy:Top 1st: Avery puts runners on 1st and 3rd, but leave the runners stranded to keep the game scoreless.
Bottom 1st: Murphy scores three runs. An error was followed by a two-out, two-run home run off the light standard in right field for a 2-0 Bulldog lead. A triple down the right field line was followed by an Avery error to account for the third run. Murphy leads 3-0 after one inning of play.
Top 2nd: Avery gets C.J. Vance on base with a walk but a fielder's choice and strikeout ends any threat. Avery trails 3-0 going to the bottom of the second inning at Murphy.
Bottom 2nd: Murphy with a pair of home runs, a solo homer and a three-run homer was helped by a couple of Avery miscues as the Bulldogs now lead 7-0 with nobody out in the second inning.
Avery pitching change as manager Benny Wellborn goes to Jared Clark in relieve and makes a number of defensive adjustments. Ethan Sluder, who started at catcher, moves to right field. C.J. Vance, who started in right field now moves to shortstop. Dustin Childress is moved from shortstop to second base. Mark Polsgrove adjusts from second base to first base, and Daniels moves behind the plate to catch.
Murphy picks up five additional runs as the plate is somewhat squeezed by the umpire. The Bulldogs up its lead to 12-0 after two innings of play. Top of the Avery order coming up as the Vikings try to mount a comeback against the undefeated Murphy club.
Top 3rd: Daniel Huff and Ethan Sluder score on a two-RBI base hit to cut the lead to 12-2 going to the bottom of the third. Another Avery error in the bottom of the third helps Murphy add a run to increase the lead to 13-2 as we continue in the third frame with two runners on base.
Murphy adds four more runs in the frame and Daniel Huff comes on in relief to close out the inning. Avery trails 17-2 going into the top of the fourth inning.
Top 5th: It's over from Murphy and the Bulldogs take a five-inning, 17-2 win. Murphy advances where they will travel to West Wilkes to take on the Blackhawks. The West Wilkes manager was in attendance at today's game scouting his next opponent. Murphy played well and got a little help from the Big Red, but the Vikings' season is over. Congratulations to the Avery baseball team on a great season and an even better postseason!
