Cavaliers split opening weekend in First Pitch Classic
PANAMA CITY, FLA. - The Darton State College Cavaliers won two of four games in opening weekend baseball action in Panama City, Fla., in the annual First Pitch Classic tournament.
The Cavaliers shut out Gulf Coast Community College and Central Alabama Community College in games 1 and 3, respectively. Both scores were 3-0. The Cavs took early leads in games 2 and 4, but lost both to by narrow margins to Tallahassee Community College – 2-1 and 6-5, respectively.
Darton plays its first home game at 1 p.m., Saturday, against Wallace Dothan Community College (Ala.), and has another at home Sunday, also at 1 p.m., against Southern Union.
Sunstrom Stifles Gulf Coast
In Game 1 on Friday, Darton State's A.J. Sunstrom kept Gulf Coast CC off the scoreboard for all seven innings he was on the hill. He pitched a shutout, allowing no runs on two hits while striking out three.
Ventavis Jerger went 2-3 as Darton State College Cavaliers took home a 3-0 victory over Gulf Coast CC in seven innings at Panama City, Fl on Friday.
The Cavaliers never trailed after scoring two runs in the second on two singles. Jerger knocked in Nate Ferrell with his single and Trey Haygood plated Jerger with his infield hit.
Ferrell was 2-3 with a double and a run scored.
Cavaliers Fall After Early Lead
In Game 2, Darton State took an early 1-0 lead but couldn't hang on to the lead, ending up on the losing side of a 2-1 ballgame against Tallahassee CC on Friday at Panama City, Fl.
Tallahassee CC took the lead in the seventh inning on an RBI single by Anthony Torres off of Cavalier reliever Ryan McCranie.
John Harman looked sharp on the mound. Tallahassee CC managed just three hits off of Harman, who allowed no earned runs, walked one and struck out three during his 4 2/3 innings of work.
Jared Stanley got the win for Tallahassee CC. He tossed four innings of shutout ball. He struck out none, walked none and surrendered four hits.
The lone run of the game for Darton State crossed the plate in the third inning when Casey James took home during a rundown involving Tay Jerger. The Cavaliers only managed four singles off TCC pitching.
Goldsmith and Good Combine to Shutout Central Alabama
On Saturday's first game, both Darton State and Central Alabama CC put runners aboard, but it was Darton State College Cavaliers that was able to take advantage, pulling out a 3-0 win.
Central Alabama CC out-hit Darton State five to four, but CACC stranded five runners on base.
Brandon Goldsmith put together a nice outing. Central Alabama CC managed just four hits off of Goldsmith, who allowed no earned runs, walked one and struck out one during his five innings of work.
Cavalier closer Ryan Good put away the final six outs to record his first save.
Darton State never trailed after scoring two runs in the second on a passed ball and an RBI single by Casey James. James led the offense going 1-2 with 1 RBI, 1 run, and a walk.
Grand Slam Shocks Cavs
Nate Ferrell did all he could to give Darton State a boost, but it wasn't enough to get past Tallahassee CC, as the Cavaliers lost 6-5 in seven innings on Saturday's finale.
Ferrell put himself in scoring position with two extra-base hits for the Cavaliers. He doubled in the first and seventh innings.
Cody Alling got the win for Tallahassee CC. He allowed one run over 2 2/3 innings. He struck out two, walked two and surrendered two hits.
Tallahassee CC was sparked by Clay Fenwick and Chad Mabini, who teamed up for five hits and five RBIs.
Tallahassee CC closer Taylor Wright put away the final 12 outs to record the save.
The top of the first saw Darton State take an early lead, 4-0. The Cavaliers' threat began with a single by Kody Adams. A single by Davis Knapp then moved Adams from first to second. Cody Wofford singled, scoring Adams. More runs came home for the Cavs when Wofford scored on an RBI double by Ferrell, Ferrell scored on an RBI single by Brandon Sharpe, and Sharpe scored on an error.
Tallahassee CC brought home one run in the first inning, and matched that run total in the second with a Mabini solo homerun. In the first, Tallahassee CC scored on an RBI single by Trent Higginbothem, plating Fenwick.
The game's last lead went to Tallahassee CC thanks to a third inning rally that saw four runs cross the plate on a grand slam by Mabini off of Darton State starter Cameron Martin.
Sharpe finished 1-3 with an RBI and 2 runs scored, a walk and stolen base.