Sand Mountain Reporter

FORT PAYNE — Defending champion Boaz could be the team to beat again in the 11-and-12-year-old O-Zone division of the Dixie Youth Baseball District 8 Tournament.

Boaz sailed to an 11-4 decision over Cherokee American in its tournament opener Friday night and then battered host Fort Payne 10-0 Saturday afternoon.

The Boaz all-stars will play tonight at 8 against the Rainsville/Mountaineers winner at the Fort Payne Sports Complex.

Boaz 11, Cherokee American 4: Boaz blasted four home runs against Cherokee American’s hurlers, including a pair by Wesley Burns.

Burns led off the game with a solo homer. Later in the first inning, teammate Troy Edwards slugged a two-run shot, giving Boaz a 3-0 lead.

Cherokee American trimmed Boaz’s margin to 3-2 in the bottom of the first.

Boaz stretched its advantage to 6-2 in the top of the second.

With two outs, Blake Lemaster reached on an infield single and Matthew Smith walked.

Burns struck out swinging, but the catcher dropped the ball. He picked it up and threw it into right field, allowing Lemaster and Smith to score.

A hustling Burns rounded second and raced home when Cherokee American threw the ball away again.

Reagin Langley reached on a fielder’s choice and scored when Douglas Howard got aboard on a fielding error, making it 7-2 in the top of the third.

Gage Cash lined a single to center field in the top of the fourth. Smith’s grounder plated Cash.

Cherokee American trimmed it to 8-3 in the bottom of the fourth.

Burns led off the fifth inning by belting his second homer, a line drive over the center-field fence.

Taylor Camper dropped a bloop single into right field and scored on a wild pitch, giving Boaz a 10-3 cushion.

With two away, Langley ripped a solo homer down the left-field line.

Cortez Henderson scored Cherokee American’s fourth run in the bottom of the fifth.

Burns started and pitched three innings to earn the win for Boaz.

Caleb Hanson tossed two innings of relief. Cameron Whitt worked the sixth inning.

Boaz 10, Fort Payne 0: Cash earned the win on the mound, limiting Fort Payne to three hits in four innings of work. He struck out two and walked none.

Burns batted 2-for-2, including a two-run homer, his third roundtripper of the tournament.

Share | Save | Mail | Print | Letter

Follow the Reporter on Twitter:

SMR News and
SMR Sports

Serving Albertville and the Sand Mountain region

Publisher: Ben Shurett

1603 Progress Drive
Albertville, Alabama 35950

Tel: 256-840-3000 | Email

A Southern Newspapers publication.