By By Tim Cottrell
Atmore Cal Ripken Minor League Baseball returned to action Thursday at Tom Byrne Park with more exciting action, as things started out with the Chuck Stevens Automotive Cubs taking out the Swift Supply Lions, 8-5.
The game stood at 4-2 Cubs heading into the final inning, but four Cub runs in the top half of the sixth inning were enough to hold off the Lions.
Coby Smith and LaCoya Harris were the stars of the day for the Cubs, each crossing the plate twice. Smith had a double and a triple on the day, and Harris added a double of his own. Tanner Smith, Alex Rice, D-man McCarthy, and Blake Allen added the other four Cub runs.
Robin Swift led the Lions on the day, scoring two runs. Ricky Reed, D.J. Carter, and Dakota Goins scored the other Lion runs. Reed reached on a double in the sixth and was driven in by a Carter triple.
Eagles 8
Braves 6
The late game Thursday saw more fireworks, as the Ziebach &Webb Timber Co. Eagles held off the Atmore Family Pharmacy Braves, 8-6.
Brett Helton led the Eagles on the day, scoring two runs. Tadd Wall and Cameron Murphy also added runs on the day. Murphy legged out a triple.
Bo Ramer and David Johnson led the Braves in a losing effort, each scoring two runs. Ramer added a double and Johnson a triple. Malcolm Black and Hunter Dettling would add the other Brave runs. Black knocked a triple on the day.
Cal Ripken Baseball took the long holiday weekend off, with no games on Saturday or Monday. Teams returned to action Tuesday night.