Pioneers defeat Tech, will face Sylvan Hills at Fayettville

4A State Tournament Bracket

AAAA State Tournament Finals, Saturday 5/10 at Baum Stadium:

published Wednesday, May 7, 2003

In every game there comes a moment. A defining moment, when the team that is trailing on the scoreboard looks up, and calculates their chances of winning. As they watch each turn at bat and each out slip quickly away from them, the realization that they are no longer in control of the game begins to set in. They gradually begin to relax, and let fate take it's course. After all, it's only baseball...

In the 4A State Semi-finals, the Pioneers never saw that moment. They were too busy slugging it out at the plate, and fighting it out on the field. They never saw that moment because they are competitors, they are determined, they are, now and always, winners. Regardless of the outcome of the Championship game on Saturday, Win or Lose, it will not lessen their resolve to play till the last and never surrender to fear or mediocrity. Pioneers; the name says it all.

The Greene County Tech Eagles are a quality ball club. No drum banging, horn honking, screaming at the pitcher from the dugout, bush league antics from them. They are high quality young men with the same professionalism that I admire in the Pioneers. They represent what baseball teams should be, but so few are.

The visiting Eagles first at bat sees Kellums reaching on a single after 2 ground outs, he will be left on when Clark strikes out.

Pioneer lead off Francis reaches on a shortstop error, steals second and advances to 3rd when Fletcher grounds out. He will be left on.

There are 2 quick outs on a fly ball and a ground out. Altom allows Kellums to walk, but comes back and gets the 3rd out when Nelson grounds out.

Only Skinner reaches base after being hit by a pitch.

Lead off Reeves pops up for an out and Ferguson reaches on an infield error. He is joined by Duncan on a single. Duncan will be put out by a Kellums fielders choice, and Smith will close the inning with a great catch in center field, stranding Nelson.

Lead off Rhodes singles, but is caught off the bag when Francis drives one right to the shortstop, leaving the Pioneers with 2 quick outs. A ground out will end the inning for the Pioneers.

Lead off Eagle Miller walks and is joined by Birmingham and Davis to load the bases with no outs. Gatlin grabs a foul pop up for the 1st out and Skinner gets another for the second with the bases still loaded. A Pioneer fielding error will allow Miller and Birmingham to score the first runs of the game and leave runners at the corners. Altom will hit Duncan to load the bases again. Kellums will ground to Burba who tags 3rd for the last out.

Lead off Pioneers Fletcher and Burba single. Fuqua hits into the 6-4-3 double play leaving Fletcher at 3rd. A ground out will end the inning for the Pioneers.

Henrickson relieves Altom and the Eagles go down quickly with a strike out and 2 ground outs.

The Pioneers fare no better this inning with 2 ground outs and a fly out.

Fly out, Strike out, Ground out. Done deal.

Lead off Francis singles but is left out when Smith reaches on a fielders choice. Burba bounces the ball off the fence in left field to score the Pioneers first run of the game. After reaching a 3-0 count Fuqua is intentionally walked, but both are left by a fly out.

Down to the wire now, Henrickson delivers with a pop up, strike out and ground out.

The Pioneers come to the plate for their last at bat, down 1 run. With 1 out, Davis steps to the plate and delivers his 3rd long hit of the night. This one finds the gap and leaves him on 2nd. Pinch hitter Rogers steps up and advances when he is hit by a pitch. Rhodes reenters and relieves him at 1st. Francis comes to the plate and slams one into the left center gap. With the fastest part of the Pioneer line up in flight, it's a footrace from there out. They never had a shot at Davis, who scores easily, and the relay from the shortstop home is behind Rhodes, who scores the 3rd and winning run, advancing the Pioneers to the State finals in Fayettville.