By By Matthew Nascone
The Atmore 9 year olds team tournament team two rode the arm of pitcher Tanner Smith all the way to the state tournament with a win Monday over Spanish Fort at Matthews Park in Mobile.
Atmore will represent District 13 in the 2006 Alabama Cal Ripken 9-year-old State Tournament beginning July 6 in Alexander City. Atmore clinched a spot with a dramatic come-from-behind 5-4 victory.
Entering the bottom of the sixth inning Atmore was trailing 4-2. Scott Bradley reached base on a walk, Tristan McAnally drove Bradley home with a single. Dalton Daniels tied the game on a single to drive in McAnally.
Perry Metzler and Tanner Smith both reached base to load the bases for Brodie Amos and Amos delivered an RBI single for the 5-4 win. He was 2-for-3 in the game and Metzler was a perfect 3-for-3.
Metzler and Amos scored the first two runs for Atmore in the second inning and Smith went the distance on the mound, striking out six batters and allowing only five hits.
Theodore 10 – Atmore 0
Atmore's June 25 game was a tough loss for the 9 year olds. The team never seemed to get in a rhythm and only recorded two hits on the day. Tristan McAnally and Perry Metzler each got one hit.
Dalton Daniels, McAnally, Scott Brantley and Coby Smith all saw action on the mound against Theodore.
Atmore 8 – Satsuma 7
A seven-run first inning led Atmore to victory June 24 against Satsuma. Coby Smith, Tristan McAnally, Perry Metzler, Tanner Smith, Brodie Amos, Bo Ramer and D'Andrez McCarthy each scored one run in the first.
Scott Brantley scored one more run for Atmore in the fourth inning. Satsuma scored all their runs in the second inning. Tanner Smith got the win on the mound as he recorded five strikeouts.
Theodore 14 – Atmore 4
Theodore was not going to be denied in their June 24 matchup with Atmore and they walked away with an easy victory. But Coby Smith, Scott Brantley, Tristan McAnally and Larry Pugh managed to score one run each for Atmore.
McAnally, Tanner Smith and Coby Smith each threw two innings on the mound.
9 year olds Team One
Spanish Fort 12 – Atmore 2
John Sawyer and Tanner Kirk each scored a run in the game for Atmore on June 22 and Sawyer took the loss on the mound. Trey McGhee recorded six strikeouts in relief of Sawyer on the hill.
Grand Bay 14 – Atmore 0
John Sawyer and Gage White each recorded one single at the plate and Sawyer recorded seven strikeouts on the mound.
11 year olds
Matthews 20 – Atmore 6
The Atmore 11-year-old tournament team suffered a tough defeat at the hands of the Matthews tournament team June 24 in Mobile.
Brett Helton scored two runs for Atmore and Chance Jackson, Brandon Metzler, Logan Smith and Clayton Vickrey each scored one run.
8 year olds
Boykin 15 – Atmore 3
The team from Boykin sent the Atmore 8 year olds back to Atmore with a 15-3 win June 17 in Mobile.
Jacolby Ulmer scored two runs for Atmore and Devante Stevens scored the other Atmore run.
Matthews 12 – Atmore 3
In their opening game June 16, the Atmore 8 year olds suffered defeat at the hands of Matthews.
Timothy Finklea Jr., Arri Torres and Devante Stevens each scored one run for Atmore.