Published: June 30, 2009 09:14 am      

Hot Bats

By Travis Smith / Staff Writer

Austin Nudder’s two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning lifted North Laurel over Corbin, 11-0 allowing North Laurel to advance into district play in the 12-year-old Little League All-Star tournament.

Although Corbin was able to get some base runners on during the game, the Redhounds just couldn’t find that one hit to help them put some runs on the board.

In the first inning, Corbin had an excellent opportunity to score with the bases loaded, but a strike out by John Cushman left three runners stranded, ending any hope of getting a runner across the plate.

But while Corbin struggled at the plate against the pitching of North Laurel’s Dylan Messer, on the other side of the field, it was North Laurel able to put the bat on the ball, ripping Corbin pitcher Trevor Hill for eight runs during their first at bat.

Following a ground out by lead-off man Zack Lawson, Keaton Kennedy was hit by a pitch, giving North Laurel its first base runners of the game.

For the inning, North Laurel sent twelve batters to the plate collecting five singles, two doubles and a triple. Ethan Maxey started the hitting exhibition off with a single, which was followed by an RBI single by Jake McWhorter. Nudder then brought his teammates home on a two RBI triple. Messer then picked up a double, which was followed by a single from Jarrod Lewis, RBI single by Steven Nelson, fielders choice single by Alex Nichols, RBI double by Lawson during his second at bat of the inning and a RBI single by Kennedy.

Corbin was able to get out of the inning after forcing Maxey into a ground out, but it wasn’t before North Laurel had taken an 8-0 lead.

Following the rough first inning, the game remained pretty much uneventful as both teams traded outs in the second inning.

North Laurel was able to pick up one more run in the bottom of the third on Lawson’s second double of the game, which allowed Lewis to come in and score leaving the score 9-0 in favor of North Laurel.

With his team holding onto a commanding lead, Messer made quick work of Corbin in the top of the fourth inning, striking out the side.

And that is when North Laurel put the game away. After a single by McWhorter, Nudder connected on his game ending homer, which sailed over the left field fence and into a wooded area some 25 feet behind the warning track, ending the game in four innings.

On the mound, Messer pitched four innings, striking out eight and walking two.