Madison County continues to creep its way back up the region ladder but took a step backward Monday.
The sixth-place Red Raiders (6-8, 3-5) lost 5-3 to fifth-place Clarke Central in Danielsville in a key region game for both teams.
The Gladiators got two-run homers from Bradley West and Will Lance and held off a late Madison County rally to snap the Red Raiders’ two-game winning streak.
Madison County was slated to play Wednesday at Cedar Shoals, but results of that game weren’t available at press time.
Despite the loss, the team had won two out of its last three (as of press time) following a 1-4 start in Region 8-AAAA play.
In Monday’s loss, the Red Raiders trailed 5-1 heading into the final inning after West and Lance’s two-run blasts but loaded the bases with no outs and pushed two runs across the plate. Matthew “Raybo” Robinson hit into a fielder’s choice to bring home one run, followed by a throwing error on the same play, which brought home another score.
The game ended, however, when Bracken Turner bounced into a double play.
Jarrett Seawright led Madison County, going 2-for-3.
Starting pitcher Dustin Roberts allowed just one run through five innings of work, but served up the long balls to West and Lance in the sixth.
Three days earlier, the Red Raiders beat Apalachee 5-3, scoring three runs in the top of the seventh to earn the a come-from-behind victory over the Wildcats.
Roberts went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Turner went 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Kyle Dean also drove in a run, going 1-for-4.
Madison County got a quality start out of Brock Turner, who pitched five innings, surrendering four hits and three runs, none of which were earned. He struck out six batters and walked three.
Brandon Doolittle worked one and two-thirds innings for the victory. Robinson retired the final batter in the seventh to lock up the Red Raiders’ third region victory of the year.
Madison County went into the Apalachee game coming off an 11-7 victory over Rockdale County last Wednesday (March 24), thanks in large part to a huge seven-run second inning.
Dylan Chandler went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs, while Roberts was 1-for-4 with three RBIs. Other top hitters were Bracken Turner (2-for-4, RBI), Steven Tiller (one hit, two RBIs), Daniel Townsend (2-for-4, RBI), Dean (2-for-2, double) and Robinson (2-for-5).
Robinson pitched four and two-thirds innings of solid relief for the victory, giving up just one earned run.
