Diamond Elite big bats dominate Warriors
Published 6:00 am Saturday, June 1, 2019
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Warriors catcher J. Googe tags Carter Kinch out at home after a brutal inning at bat by the Diamond Elite.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Young spectators look on as pitcher L. Archer for the Warriors goes for the tag out at home.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde It was a busy day in the outfield for the Happy Valley Warriors as left fielder R. Rank throws in yet another deep hit ball by the Diamond Elite.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Third base coach for the Diamond Elite instructs Garrett Embree to go on home as he rounds third.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde #3 Garrett Embree for the Diamond Elite fields a grounder and gets the out at first.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Noah Smith for the Elite looks to tag up after a pop fly.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Noah Smith for the Diamond Elite is safe on a steal to second after a wild outfield throw gets by Noah Smith.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Pitcher J. Caps for the Warriors throws out the runner at first after a brilliant grab on a well hit grounder.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Warriors right fielder F. Townsend goes for a well hit ball by the Elite.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Maddox Fritts strides into home after hitting and in field homer to center field.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde It was a big day for the Diamond Elite as Evan Mutter looks on after hitting a home run deep into center field.
BY ALLEN LAMOUNTAIN
STAR CORRESPONDENT
Belting 24 hits while collecting 12 bases on balls, Diamond Elite II scored a 34-2 victory over the Warriors on Thursday in American Legion 15U baseball at T.A. Dugger.
The Warriors enjoyed a brief lead scoring two runs in the top of the first on a base knock from Levi Taylor and a pair of walks that loaded the bases.
Nakota Graham then delivered a two-run single to give the Warriors a 2-0 lead. D-E pitcher Maddox Fritts settled down and struck out the next three Warrior batters to end the threat.
D-E sent 16 hitters to the plate in the last of the first scoring 15 runs with Evan Mutter crushing a three-run home run.
Carter Kinch had a two-run double in the frame as did Wade Witcher. Others with run-scoring hits in the stanza included Dylan Hennard and Fritts who had a two-run inside the park homer.
“Most of these guys, I would say 75 percent of them, have all been together since they were 7 or 8 years old,” said D-E manager Travis Dingus. “We hit a little bit today. Nine of them will be going to Tennessee High next year. It’s a good freshman class for sure.”
Most of the damage was done against Warriors starter Graham as he did not record an out before he was lifted for Jaden Capps.
D-E continued to collect runs scoring five more runs in the second frame with Noah Smith and Fritts each collecting RBI hits.
Leading 20-2, D-E scored 14 more runs in the third inning as the Warriors were overmatched in this contest.
Warriors manager Kevin Ward told his troops in the aftermath to “Keep your head up and play with pride. If you keep showing up and competing, you will get better.
“I don’t care what the scoreboard says if you come and play hard and give 100 percent that is all I can ask.”
For D-E, Fritts finished 4-for-4 at the plate with four runs batted in and he also pitched well giving up just two hits while striking out six and walking three.
Mutter was 2-for-3 with a walk and four RBI as well.
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American Legion 15U
Diamond Elite II 34-2
Warriors…. 2 0 0 0 – 2 2 6
D-E …….(15) 5(14) X – 34 24 0
W – Fritts L – Graham
