Knights Advance to Semifinals in Cartersville with Win over Scorpions

The Marietta Knights celebrate their 8-7 quarterfinal victory over the SBA Scorpions

In weather better suited for the Iditarod, the Marietta Knights were trying to close out their best all around performance of the season, but the favored SBA Blue Scorpions had the tying run on 3rd base and the winning run at the plate with 2 outs in the final inning. Austin Hansell delivered a low fastball that the Scorpions' batter scorched up the middle. Shortstop Mason Doyle ranged to his left and calmly and cleanly fielded the ball as it hopped towards his chest and threw a strike to Presley Field who squeezed it for the exclamation point on a great 8-7 Knights' victory and the celebration was underway.



Austin Hansell had an RBI single and closed
out the final 1 2/3 inning on the mound

The Knights were committed to being more aggressive at the plate and it showed early as Will Nelson, Austin Hansell and Presley Field each hit 1st inning RBI singles as the Knights exploded for 6 runs out of the gate. Will Nelson got the start on the mound and protected the lead by completely shutting down the Scorpions in the 1st and 2nd innings striking out 3 to only 1 hit and 1 walk.

SBA finally got their big bats going in the 3rd including a monstrous homerun that hit the roof of the concession stand to cut the Knights lead to 7-4. It started to feel like the Bush Leagues as the Scorpions resorted to heckling and catcalling Will in an attempt to rattle him, but with runners on 2nd and 3rd he stayed cool and coaxed a high pop up to short that Mason hauled in to stop the threat. Cal Hughes walked and later took home on a wild pitch to provide the final run the Knights needed.

After Will got another flyball out caught by Gil Hastings in RF, Austin took the hill and cooly closed out the final 1 2/3 innings with a strike out and some great defensive help from his teammates. In the defensive play of the game, SBA hit a high pop in foul territory. SBA's 3B coach held his ground forcing JD Rinehimer to run around the coach and make a diving catch, scooping the ball just above the frozen grass. Garrett Wells got the 2nd out on a grounder to 2B leading to the final grounder to Mason. It was a great win for the Knights as it showed them what they can do when they're aggresive at the plate and on the basepaths. Best of all, it showed how cool these boys are with a game on the line and they sure did deliver.

Cal Hughes had a double, 2 runs scored
and a started a double play on the day

The win advanced the Knights to a rematch with the Oregon Park Phantoms, the eventual tournament champions. The Phantoms jumped out to a 9-0 lead when it was determined that they were using a gas heater to heat their bats. USSSA rules call for all batters found to have used altered bats to be ruled out and the coaches ejected. Unfortunately, the field umpires simply told them to turn off the heaters. Once the heaters were off, the Knights outscored the Phantoms 3-2 the rest of the way but fell 11-3. Garrett Wells hit a 2 RBI single that scored Cal and Hunter. The defensive play of the semi-final was by Cal Hughes who caught a shallow flyball in left and doubled a baserunner off at 2B.
All in all, it was a great day for the Knights as they advanced in their first tournament of the season and gained some great experience that will come in handy as the season progresses.