By By Tim Cottrell
After a promising start to the weekend, Atmore's All-Stars came back down to earth Saturday and Sunday in Mobile County.
All three teams (8-, 9-, and 12-year-old All-Stars) were eliminated over the weekend.
After starting out the tournament with a win over Satsuma, things ended in a frustrating fashion for the Atmore Cal Ripken 12-year-old All-Stars. After a rain-out Friday night, they squared off against the "A" team from Semmes and were pounded by a score of 15-5.
Semmes scored all 15 runs in the first two innings.
On the bright side for Atmore, Brett Wilkins hit a monster two-run home run in the third inning; and Marshall Rolin came on to pitch two innings of scoreless ball. This loss sent Atmore to the loser's bracket.
Theodore 7
Atmore 5
Atmore was eliminated for the 12-year-old All-Star tournament Sunday after losing to Theodore by a score of 7-5.
Errors proved costly for Atmore in the game, but four Atmore runs in the fourth inning were almost enough to come back.
Rolin pitched four innings and Christian Swartzendruber pitched two more in relief.
Rolin, Devonte Brown, and Swartzendruber had big base hits on the day for Atmore.
All three Atmore teams lost to all three Theodore teams over the weekend.
Theodore 8
Atmore 1
Theodore sent another Atmore All-Star squad packing Saturday, this time in the form of the 8-year-old All-Stars.
Theodore jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and Atmore could never recover.
Scott Brantley scored the only Atmore run.
Satsuma 12
Atmore 2
The final game of the day Saturday saw Atmore's Cal Ripken 9-year-old All-Stars eliminated from contention as well, losing to Satsuma 12-2.
Satsuma jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two innings, and Atmore never recovered.
David Johnson and Wesley Jefferson scored the two Atmore runs on the day.