By By Tim Cottrell
Cal Ripken All-Stars returned to action Thursday night in Mobile; and Babe Ruth All-Stars saw their action just beginning as the 13-year-olds began their quest for the World Series.
Atmore's 10- and 11-year-old All-Stars began play Thursday night in Grand Bay and Theodore, respectively, while the 13-year-old Babe Ruth All-Stars traveled to Monroeville to take on the host team. Atmore combined 14-15-year-old All-Stars began play Friday night, but that game was incomplete at press time.
Atmore 11
Monroeville 9
Atmore's 13-year-olds started off their run well, taking a slugfest from the Monroeville All-Stars.
In a game that was 6-5 after only three innings, Atmore used a big fifth inning to wrestle away a win.
Jon Dean was the big story for Atmore, knocking an inside-the-park home run. He finished 3-for-5 on the day, with one RBI and two runs scored. Cameron McGhee and Jacob Rackard also had big days for Atmore, both scoring three runs. McGhee batted 4-for-5 on the day and knocked in a run, while Rackard batted 3-for-5.
Kenny Bowen and Tyler Hochstetler also knocked in runs for Atmore; and Haden McGill, Shay Gipson, and Michael Mitchell provided the rest of the Atmore runs.
Rackard got the start at pitcher for Atmore. He went three innings and struck out one. Haden McGill came on in relief and pitched the remaining four innings and struck out three to pick up the win.
Semmes 8
Atmore 7
The 10-year-old Cal Ripken All-Stars from Atmore snatched defeat from the jaws of victory Thursday night, allowing Semmes' number two team to come back from a 7-0 deficit in the fifth inning to win 8-7.
Atmore scored four runs in the second inning and three more in the fourth to build the seemingly insurmountable lead.
Cameron Vickrey was the star of the evening for Atmore in a losing effort. He batted 2-for-4, knocked in three runs, scored a run, and had a triple. Fred Knight and Joseph Parker also had nice days for Atmore. Knight batted 2-for-2 with an RBI, two runs scored, and a double; while Parker batted 1-for-2 and scored a run.
Brandon Metzler and Dustin Mack each had a run and an RBI to their totals; while Domineque Hubert and Jordan Sasser pitched in the other Atmore runs.
Joseph Parker got the start for Atmore and was nearly unhittable for over four innings. He struck out six on the day.
Satsuma 9
Atmore 0
The nightcap Thursday night saw Atmore's 11-year-old Cal Ripken All-Stars run into a buzzsaw in the form of Satsuma.
Satsuma scored one run in the first, four in the third, and two in the fourth and sixth innings to get the win.
Atmore managed only three hits on the night. Dillion Rolin notched a double, and Jaylen Henry and Chase Jaye each managed singles.
All three teams were scheduled for Friday night action, as was the 14-and-15-year-old team. Look for full coverage of the weekend in baseball in Wednesday's Advance.