Playing for three

The Malone O-Zone All-Stars bounced back from a close loss Monday with a 17-7 win over Grand Ridge Tuesday night, to advance to the District 5
Tournament title game Thursday in Malone.

Grand Ridge took an 8-7 win in Monday’s game and could have eliminated its county rival with a win Tuesday.

However, Malone had other ideas and exploded for a four-inning, run-rule victory.

With both teams having one loss in the double-elimination tournament, the coaches drew out of a hat after the game to determine who would move to the title round, and who would be forced to play Liberty County Wednesday night in an elimination game.

Malone won the drawing and got the bye.

Antwon Johnson will start on the mound for Malone Thursday. But it was Jackson Reddish leading the way on Tuesday night, going all four innings to pick up his second win of the tournament.

The Malone offense took care of the rest by pounding out 17 runs against a Grand Ridge team that had surrendered just seven total runs the previous two games.

“We played really well,” Malone coach Holt Floyd said. “The defense is getting better each game, and we got another solid game on the mound from Jackson Reddish.

“At the plate we were very patient, made them give us good pitches to hit and put the ball in play.”

Tuesday’s game was far less dramatic than Monday’s, when Grand Ridge got the walk-off win on AJ Johnson’s RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning.

“That was one of the best 11- to 12-year-old baseball games I’ve ever seen,” Floyd said. “Each team went back and forth. It was a classic Jackson County battle. It was a pleasure to watch that game.

“Both teams played really well and there were not many mistakes on either side.”

Now Malone finds itself in a familiar position: one win away from a district title, which would be the third in a row for this group of All-Stars.

“When we started the season, this was a goal we set to be in this position,” Floyd said. “We’re really fortunate to be here. This would be third win in a row with this group, and that’s something we’ve talked about from day one.

“From a coach’s standpoint, to see guys progress over the last three years like they have is really rewarding. To see them set goals and do what it takes to reach those goals is the best payment that a coach can get.”

To get there, Malone will look to Johnson to help carry them.

Johnson started and was solid in Monday’s loss to Grand Ridge and still has six innings available to pitch.

“He went seven strong innings on Monday and we really feel confident with him on the mound again,” Floyd said. “That’s our best defensive alignment when he’s on the mound.

“(Grand Ridge and Liberty County) will have to use up their pitchers (Wednesday), so we should catch them at a very good time for us.”

The title game begins tonight at 7 p.m.