By By Matthew Nascone
The South Alabama Bandits were at it again last weekend.
The team, comprised of 13 baseball players 10 years old and younger, placed second at the North Florida Fall State Championship in Pace, Fla Nov. 11-12. They were defeated 10-8 in the championship game by NEP Aqua Sox from Pensacola, Fla.
Bandits' manager, Tim McAnally, said the team played well in the tournament and he was proud of the effort put forth.
"We had a couple good performances," McAnally said. "We had our shots in the championship game, but we just could not get the hits when we needed them."
Scott Brantley led things off in the championship game Nov. 12 with an inside-the-park home run to lead off the first inning. But the Bandits could not hold onto the early lead.
Brantley scored two runs in the game and he hit another inside-the-park home run in the fifth inning for the Bandits. Bryar Settle scored three runs for South Alabama and Dalton Daniel scored two runs.
Bandits 10 – Mud Dawgs 8
In the first game on Sunday, the Bandits rallied in the fourth inning for a 10-8 victory over the Mobile Mud Dawgs.
The Bandits rod a eight-run fourth inning to the win. Scott Brantley, Bryar Settle, Coby Smith, Tristan McAnally, Brodie Amos, Nate Smith, Tanner Smith and Tristan Portwood each scored one run in the inning. McAnally and Amos each scored a run in the second inning.
Aaron McDonald picked up the win on the mound for the Bandits.
Bandits 9 – Mud Dawgs 0
The final game of the first day saw the Bandits shutout the Mud Dawgs behind the strong pitching of Tristan McAnally. McAnally threw a complete game, one-hit shutout. He struck out three batters and walked four.
The bats came alive behind McAnally and Scott Brantley, Bryar Settle, Coby Smith and Aaron McDonald each scored two runs in the game and McAnally scored one run himself.
For the weekend, McAnally pitched seven innings and allowed only two runs on one hit.
"We had a good weekend of pitching from our guys," Tim McAnally said. "Tanner Smith also had a good weekend on the hill for us."
Aqua Sox 12 – Bandits 1
The first game of the tournament saw the Bandits go down by mercy rule to the Aqua Sox in the fourth inning, 12-1.
Scott Brantley scored the lone run for the Bandits.
"The Aqua Sox were a tough team," Tim McAnally said. "We just could not get past them, but Aaron McDonald pitched a good game in that first game."
The Bandits next tournament is not until February. McAnally said the team will take the rest of November off and resume light practice in December and January. Their next tournament is the AllStar Production's President's Day Challenge Feb. 17-18.
The team finished the fall with a 13-11 record and was the No. 3 team in the nation and No. 1 team in Alabama according to the United States Specialty Sports Association rankings.
The roster for the Bandits is a collection of talent from the Atmore, Monroeville, Excel and Walnut Hill youth baseball leagues. That roster includes, Brodie Amos, Scott Brantley, Tristan Brown, Zach Cumbie, Dalton Daniel, Tristan McAnally, Aaron McDonald, Trey McGhee, Bryar Settle, John Patrick Sawyer, Coby Smith, Nate Smith and Tanner Smith.
The coaches are, manager Tim McAnally, John Brantley, Stan Cumbie, Nate Daniel, Jody Dortch, Brian Settle, JP Sawyer and Tommy Smith.