Southside eases past Gaston 17-2
Panthers to take on Sardis in county tourney semis
SARDIS CITY — Seven games in five days? No problem for Southside.
The Panthers — fresh off a runner-up finish in the Gulf Coast Classic in Gulf Shores on Thursday — defeated Gaston 17-2 in five innings in the first round of the Etowah County baseball tournament Friday.
Southside will play No. 2 seed Sardis at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Lions’ home field.
The Panthers jumped on the Bulldogs early with three runs in the first inning and seven more in the second to grab a 10-0 lead.
Gaston scored its first run in the third inning, but the Panthers answered with another big inning in the fourth as they pushed across seven more runs to go up 17-1. Gaston scored its final run in the fifth.
Star of the Night
Andrew Dunston had two hits in four at-bats with two RBI for Southside.
By the Numbers
98 — Southside has scored 98 runs in its last seven games combined. ... 14 — The Panthers started the season 2-6 and have won 14 of 18 since. ... 5 — Errors for Gaston. Southside totaled two.
Coachspeak
“We got a lot of younger guys experience. We threw three freshmen tonight. ... They all did a good job and did what they needed to do. Now we can move on to tomorrow and play some of our experienced guys. But our biggest concern is always going to be what’s next with area. I enjoy playing in the county tournament. We do. We respect the county tournament. But at the end of the day, it doesn’t get us in the playoffs. So we are going to manage this tournament with what’s in our best interest for the next few weeks with area coming up.” — Southside coach Shane Chappell
Southside Stat Sheet
Brock Ford had two hits and one RBI. Connor Johnson, Toren Snow, Hayden Fry, Aulden Battles and Tyler Roberts each totaled one hit and one RBI. Drew Edmondson tallied three RBI. Micah Phillips had one hit while Tucker Pearce added one RBI. Pearce got the win on the mound as Walker Tremble and Trey Smith both pitched in relief.
Gaston Stat Sheet
Garren Brown had the lone Bulldog hit. Bryant Allen started on the mound and Mason Reaves and Ethan Stone both pitched in relief.