Bears win pair of games against Yantis this week

The Sulphur Bluff Bears played a pair of games against Yantis this week. The first game was played Tuesday at home, which they won 19-0.

In Tuesday’s home win Sulphur Bluff opened the game by shutting out Yantis in the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the inning the Bears set the tone with a huge 10-run inning. The inning started with Montana Hurley being hit by a pitch. Hurley stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Shane Johnson was also hit by a pitch, and Brandon Branom was able to bring Hurley when he reached base on an error by the shortstop.

The Bears were able to score another three runs before Yantis recorded their second out of the inning by striking out Chandler Mooney. Hurley came up for his second plate appearance and was hit by a pitch again. Johnson followed him with a single which scored a pair of runs to bump the Bears early lead to 8-0. Branom and Trayton South were able to drive the final two runs of the inning in, and Sulphur Bluff entered the top of the second inning with a 10-0 lead.

Branom took the mound for his second inning of work and retired the side in order. Conner Taylor got things started in the bottom of the second with an infield single. The next three batters reached base on balls, bringing in Taylor for the Bears 11th run of the game. The Bears went on to score eight more runs in the inning, giving them a 19-0 lead. Neither team scored

Neither team scored for the rest of the four inning affair, and the Bears walked away with a 19-0 win. Branom was the winning pitcher in the game, going three innings, allowing just one hit while striking out six.

The two teams met again Thursday, in Yantis , and Sulphur Bluff leadoff man Hurley once again got the game started by being hit by a pitch. Montana was able to steal second during the next at bat. With two outs in the inning, Landon Lambert came through with a double to center field, and the Bears were on the board first. Mooney popped out to the catcher to end the inning, and Sulphur Bluff entered the bottom half of the frame with a 1-0 lead. Hurley was the starting pitcher for the Bears in this one, and was able to retire the order in side, striking out the final two batters of the inning.

Sulphur Bluff was able to add another pair of runs in the top of the second, both of which came on errors. Montana came back in the bottom of the second with another 1-2-3 inning.

Sulphur Bluff was able to add one run in the third inning, and three in the fourth inning before allowing their first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth. The Bears held on to their lead for the rest of the game, and won 15-5. Hurley got the win, not allowing a single hit, and striking out six in his three innings of work.

Sulphur Bluff is scheduled to play again Tuesday, March 17 in Fruitvale at 4:30 p.m.