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Alston claims first district title

Published Thursday, March 27, 2008 11:56 AM

By Roger Lee
Summerville Journal Scene

Alston Middle School capped a perfect season with a 9-4 victory over Gregg Middle School Wednesday to earn the school's first district baseball championship.

The Tigers won 14 consecutive games this season to earn both the regular-season title and Dorchester School District Two tournament championship. Alston coach Mike Patterson attributes the success to his team's work ethic.

"From the beginning, we worked hard," he said. "On rainy days, we went into the gym and ran. From our best player to our last, everyone tried to elevate themselves and become a better player. That's how we were able to do it."

For the Tigers, the top of the lineup was the heart of the team all season and Alston's top four batters came through again in the championship. Lead-off hitter Lorenzo Wright was 3-for-4 at the plate with a walk, four RBIs and a run scored. Dalton Saunders reached on an error and finished with an RBI. Miles Goodwin reached base twice and scored two runs and No. 4 batter Lee Moyer had a double, three walks and a run scored. Hitting in the No. 6 slot, Cuyler McAuiffe contributed two hits, three RBIs and a run scored.

The top of the Gregg lineup was also solid. Hunter Ellis went 2-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and a RBI. Tyler Hamby was 3-for-4 with a run scored. Bryan Doucet was 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored.

Wright was the starting pitcher for the Tigers and only gave up a single run in the first three innings before being relieved by Matt White. Over the next three innings, White held Gregg scoreless. The Mustangs then rallied in the seventh inning to score three runs off closer Dalton Saunders. Gregg pitcher Tyler Hamby held Alston scoreless through two innings, but ran into trouble in the third and suffered the loss.

Gregg was the first to get on the scoreboard as Doucet drove in Ellis with a base hit in the top of the first. Then the Alston bats warmed up in the bottom of the third as the Tigers scored eight runs.

Wright drove in Jacob Thompson and White with a single to give Alston a 2-1 advantage. Saunders reached on an error to plate Wright and Miles Goodwin stole home for a 4-1 score. McAuiffe then drove in three runs with a double. Wright capped the scoring frenzy with a single that plated McAuiffe to put the Tigers up 8-1 entering the fourth.

Alston added a run in the fifth as Wright drove in McAuiffe. The Tigers were set to coast to victory, but Gregg wasn't ready to relinquish the championship just yet.

Nick Bell and Hamby opened the top of the seventh with singles and Doucet smashed a double to drive them in. Ellis then drove him in with a base hit for the 9-4 score. Two more Gregg batters reached, but the next batter popped up to end the threat.

Gregg finished the season with an 8-4 record. Trailing in the standings are Rollings (5-7), River Oaks (4-8), DuBose (3-8) and Oakbrook (3-8).

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