Published: June 29, 2009 11:09 am      

Corbin stays alive with 10-8 victory over Clay Co.

By Les Dixon / Sports Editor

The Corbin Little League All Stars kept their district tournament hopes alive by rallying against Clay County to pick up an impressive 10-8 win Sunday.

Corbin fell behind 8-2 in the first inning, but fought back to pick up the two-run win.

Dallas Mason’s squad will now face-off against North Laurel in an elimination game today at the South London Little League Complex at 7 p.m.

Andrew Jones came up big when it mattered most by delivering the game-winning hit — a two-run double — despite striking out during his first three plate appearances.

“I was nervous a bit coming up to the plate,” he said. “I was glad that I was able to get a hit for the team. I was just up there looking for a pitch to hit.”

Despite seeing Jones’ struggles during his first three at-bats, Mason said he thought his shortstop would come through in the clutch.

“Andrew didn’t play for me in Little League this year, but I saw him get a lot of big hits and I knew he had the talent to do it today,” he said. “He’s been successful all season long, so it didn’t surprise me at all.”

Zack Ingle’s dominating performance on the mound didn’t surprise Mason either.

Clay County scored eight runs in the first inning off starter Austin O’Neil, but Ingle settled things down and silenced Clay County’s bats for the remainder of the game. Ingle finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, triple and five RBI, while striking out six batters on the mound.

“Things didn’t work out early on, but Zack came in and did what we needed him to do,” he said. “I was really happy with the way we were able to believe in ourselves and win.”

Corbin struck first in the top of the first, as Ingle’s two-run double gave his team a 2-0 edge.

Clay County responded with eight runs, as Derek Spurlock’s three-run home run highlighted the inning.

Mason’s squad began to chip away at Clay County’s lead in the top of the second, as Ingle’s three-run triple tied the contest at eight apiece. O’Neil and Kyler Allen also drove in runs during the inning.

The game remained tied until the fifth inning, as Jones’ two-run double wrapped up the come-from-behind win for Corbin.

• Saturday’s game

North Laurel 7, Corbin 2

North Laurel took advantage of four Corbin errors and managed to pull out a 7-2 win. North Laurel led 3-0 before Austin O‘Neil’s two-run homer cut Corbin’s deficit to 3-2.

North Laurel put the game out of reach with two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings, as Zach Lawson picked up the win on the mound, while striking out eight batters.

Ethan Maxey connected with a two-run home run for North Laurel in the win.