-
Brody Gunn (5) delivers a pitch during the second game of the Bears' doubleheader against Yantis Friday. Gunn was the winning the pitcher in both of the Bears' victories, winning the first game in releif, then pitching six innings in the second game. Photo by DJ Spencer
Won first game in extra innings
YANTIS — The Sulphur Bluff Bears extended their winning streak to five games Friday following a pair of victories over the Yantis Owls. The first game would be a hard fought win, while the second was a blowout.
GAME ONE
(EXTRA INNINGS)
SULPHUR BLUFF 3
YANTIS 2
The Bears stepped up the plate first in the first game. They immediately gained a runner when Gavin Brazell was hit by a pitch.
After Jaydon Carrell struck out, Brazell scored after Yantis’ pitcher balked, giving the Bears a 1-0 lead. This was followed by a single by Brody Gunn. Later on, he would be caught stealing second base.
Their turn ended when Brock Gunn grounded out.
The Owls came to the plate next, facing Carrell on the mound. They would first gain a runner on a double. A sacrifice bunt followed, moving the runner to third base.
Following a strikeout, a wild pitch led to a run, tying the score at 1-1. Another strikeout brought the inning to a close.
The second inning began with Kaleb White striking out. Though a runner was gained when Tyson Collins walked, two more outs followed when Marshall Johnson and Evan Carr both struck out.
The Owls went down in order during the bottom of the second inning following a pair of strikeouts and a ground out, leaving the score tied at 1-1.
The third inning began with Matthew Overly striking out. A runner would be gained after Brazell walked. Another out followed when Brazell was caught stealing second base.
Though two runners were then gained when Carrell walked and Brody Gunn hit a single, their turn ended when Brock Gunn struck out.
The bottom of the third inning began with a strikeout and a fly out. Though the Owls would then gain a runner on a single, a ground out brought the third inning to a close, with the score still tied at 1-1.
The fourth inning kicked off with Ayden Johnson striking out. After Collins walked, two more outs occurred when Marshall Johnson struck out and Carr grounded out, ending the Bears’ turn.
The bottom of the fourth inning started with a single. Soon after, the runner was picked off a first base. A pair of strikeouts then followed, closing out the fourth inning, with the score remaining tied at 1-1.
The fifth inning began with Trey Tully being walked. After Brazell struck out, Carrell lined into a double play, where Tully was out for failing to tag up.
The Owls were retired in order during the bottom of the fifth inning after a pair of ground outs and a pop out, leaving the score tied at 1-1.
The sixth inning started with Brody Gunn being thrown out on a dropped third strike. Soon after Brock Gunn walked. He would then be substituted by Christian Gonzalez at first base.
After Ayden Johnson struck out, Gonzalez scored on an error, giving the Bears a 2-1 lead. Their turn then ended after Collins struck out.
The Owls went down in order during the bottom of the sixth inning following a ground out, a fly out, and a strikeout.
The seventh inning started with Kason Joslin striking out. After Carr hit a single, the inning ended when Tully grounded out and Brazell struck out.
The bottom of the seventh inning saw the Owls immediately gain two runners on a double and a hit by pitch. After this, Carrell was relieved by Tully on the mound.
A fly out occurred next, but the Owls scored after a runner tagged up, tying the score at 2-2. After a strikeout, a pair of walks loaded up the bases.
From there, Tully was relieved by Brody Gunn on the mound. Though the Owls hit a single next, a runner was tagged out at home plate, ending the seventh inning with the score tied at 2-2, necessitating extra innings.
The eighth inning began with Carrell striking out. A runner was gained when Brody Gunn hit a single.
After Brock Gunn hit a pop fly ball for an out, Ayden Johnson hit an RBI single, bringing Brody Gunn home and giving the Bears a 3-2 lead. Their turn ended when Collins grounded out.
The bottom of the eight inning began with a single. After the runner was caught stealing second base, a pop out and strikeout ended the game, as the Bears polished off a 3-2 victory.
As a team, the Bears batted 5 for 26 (.192) from the plate. Brody Gunn led with three hits, while Carr and Ayden Johnson added one hit each. Brazell, Brody, Gunn, and Gonzalez all scored one run each.
Carrell pitched six innings, striking out eight batters while conceding just five hits and two earned runs.
In 2/3 of a relief inning, Tully struck out one batter and walked two. Brody Gunn picked up the win in his 1 1/3 innings in relief, recording a strikeout and allowing only two hits.
GAME TWO
SULPHUR BLUFF 9
YANTIS 1
For the second game, the Owls stepped up to the plate first, facing Brody Gunn on the mound. They would start the game with a single.
Soon after, a fielder’s choice led to another out. After the runner was caught stealing second base, a strikeout on the next at-bat ended the Owls’ turn.
The bottom of the first inning started with Brazell being walked. After Brody Gunn hit a pop fly ball for an out, Brock Gunn hit a sacrifice bunt, moving Brazell to second base.
Following a single by Ayden Johnson, Brazell scored on a steal of home, giving the Bears a 1-0 lead. Their turn ended when Ayden Johnson was caught stealing second base, bringing the first inning to a close.
The second inning began with the Owls hitting a single. From there, a pair of strikeouts and an out on a dropped third strike ended their turn.
The bottom of the second inning kicked off with Carrell grounding out. This was followed by Collins reaching base on an error.
Tully would then hit a single, but Collins was tagged out at second base. After the bases loaded when Joslin walked and Overly was hit by a pitch, the inning ended when Brazell struck out.
The third inning began with a ground out and a strikeout. After the next batter reached base on an error, the runner would soon be caught stealing second base, ending Yantis’ turn.
The bottom of the third inning started with Brody Gunn hitting a double. After that, Brock Gunn hit an RBI single, driving Brody Gunn home and extending the Bears’ lead to 2-0. Brock Gunn was then substituted by Gonzalez at first base.
On the next at-bat, Ayden Johnson popped into a double play, where Gonzalez was out for not tagging up. Though two more runners were gained when Carrell walked and Collins hit a single, the inning came to an end when Tully hit a pop fly ball for an out.
The fourth inning started with the Owls gained two runners on a pair of errors. Three consecutive outs then followed on a pop out, a strikeout, and a line out, ending the Owls’ turn.
The bottom of the fourth inning started with Joslin hitting a single. The bases then loaded up after Overly reached base on an error, and Brazell walked.
On the next at-bar, Brody Gunn hit an RBI single, bringing Joslin home and raising the score to 3-0. Overly soon scored on an error, making the score 4-0.
Unfortunately, three straight outs followed after Brock Gunn hit an infield fly ball for an out, Ayden Johnson was thrown out on a fielder’s choice, and Carrell grounded out, ending the fourth inning.
The fifth inning kicked off with an error. After a strikeout, another error led to a run, as the Owls trimmed the score to 4-1.
A fielder’s choice would lead to another out. Following a walk, a pop out brought the Owls’ turn to an end.
The bottom of the fifth inning started with Collins hitting a single. On the next at-bat, Tully grounded into a fielder’s choice, where Collins was tagged out at second base.
Joslin then grounded into a fielder’s choice, where Tully would be tagged out at second base. The inning then ended when Overly grounded out.
The sixth inning started with the Owls hitting a single. After a strikeout and a hit by pitch, a fielder’s choice would lead to another out. A strikeout on the following at-bat ended the Owls’ turn.
The bottom of the sixth inning started with Brazell hitting a single. Brody Gunn would then bring Brazell home with an RBI double, extending the Bears’ lead to 5-1.
Brock Gunn then reached base on an error. Ayden Johnson then brought Brody Gunn home with an RBI double, raising the score to 6-1.
An RBI single by Carrell then brought Brock Gunn home, making the score 7-1. This was followed by Collins being walked, and Tully hitting a fly ball for an out.
On the next at-bat, Joslin hit an RBI single, bringing Ayden Johnson home and bringing the score to 8-1. This was followed by Kaleb White grounding out, but managing to bring Carrell home, extending the Bears’ lead to 9-1.
After Brazell walked, the inning ended after Brody Gunn grounded out.
For the seventh Brock Gunn relieved Brody Gunn on the mound. The inning started with a strikeout.
After a runner was gained on an error, a dropped third strike out and a strikeout ended the game, as the Bears capped off a 9-1 victory.
As a team, the Bears batted 13 for 25 (.520) from the plate. Brody Gunn led with three hits. Brazell, Collins, and Ayden Johnson added two hits each, while Carrell, Collins, Brock Gunn, and Joslin added tallied hit a piece.
Brazell and Brody Gunn shared the title of leading scorer with two runs each. Carrell, Brock Gunn, Ayden Johnson, Joslin, and Overly all scored one run each.
Brody Gunn earned the win on the mound. In six innings, he struck out nine batters, allowing only three hits, one walk, and one run. In one relief inning, Brock Gunn tallied three strikeouts.
With these wins, the Bears improved to 4-0 in district and 8-6 overall. They resumed Wednesday, traveling to Como to take on the Como-Pickton Eagles.