By By ROBERT BLANKENSHIP
Advance Managing Editor
The Alabama State Champions from Atmore entered the Babe Ruth Southeastern Regional Tournament with a bang, but a strong team from Florida took away their punch.
After a 4-1 victory in a very competitive game against Tennessee, Florida shut down Atmore's bats to score an 11-0 win that put the state champs in a must-win situation. The host team and last year's champions, the Mobile Rawdogs, brought an end to Atmore's season with a 4-1 win.
Despite elimination, head coach Steve McGill said his team has a lot to be proud of.
Atmore 4, Tennessee 1
In the first round, Atmore and Tennessee battled back and forth until the sixth inning when Atmore scored three runs which proved to be the difference.
Atmore took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning.
But, Tennessee came right back in the bottom of the inning to tie the game.
Tennessee threatened again in the top of the fifth. With runners at first and third, coach Steve McGill brought in Dustin Kelley who struck out a batter and forced a fly out to end the inning.
Atmore took control of the game in the sixth. Rob Mosley led off with a walk and moved to second on a bunt by Kelley. Wood laced a single by third base that allowed Mosley to score the go-ahead run. An errant throw to home allowed Wood to cruise into second. He advanced to third on a ground ball by Adam Young and scored on a single by Keith Bell. With two runners on, Jared Carlton brought Bell home with an RBI single, giving Atmore a 4-1 advantage.
Kelley got the final three outs and earned the victory.
Atmore 0, Florida 11
Florida showed why three members of their team will be playing at SEC stadiums next year as they sent Atmore to the loser's bracket, 11-0.
Florida took advantage of Atmore miscues early in the game to take a 6-0 lead into the third inning.
Atmore had its best chance to score in the bottom of the third as they loaded the bases. With one out, Atmore attempted a squeeze play, but the Florida team played it perfectly and tagged out John Rehorn before he reached the plate. A ground ball ended the threat.
Florida put the icing on the cake in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run homerun and a three-run shot to give them an 11-0 lead.
Mobile 4, Atmore 1
Despite out-hitting their opponents 6-4, Atmore errors helped the Mobile Rawdogs make their way back into the winners bracket, 4-1.
Atmore took a 1-0 lead in the first and maintained it until an unearned run gave the Raw Dogs life in the third.
The score remained tied until the fifth when they scored three more runs to take a 4-1 advantage.
Rob Mosley pitched a complete game and gave up no earned runs.