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Highlands Today

Royals Slip Past Reds For First Win

STADIE’S 2-RUN DOUBLE SPARKS LAYES TO VICTORY

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Royals third baseman Dillon Whitman concentrates on the ball with a Reds baserunner heading for the bag during the fifth inning of Monday’s Dixie Youth Majors (ages 11-12) action.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: May 20, 2008

AVON PARK — Austin Stadie's two-run double proved to be more than a well-timed hit, but the fuel that ignited a rally that ended in a 4-3 victory for the Laye's Tires, Inc. Royals over Long's Air Conditioning Reds in Monday's Dixie Youth Majors (ages 11-12) game at Durrah Martin Sports Complex.

What made the victory so special is that it was the first win of the season for the Royals.

"These kids don't give up," Laye's coach Bubba Waldron said. "It was bound to happen for us sooner or later.
"We couldn't pick a better time to get our first win. Everything seemed to be working well and we beat a really good ball club."

The win didn't come without its share of controversy.

In the home half of the fifth, Dillon Whitman scored on a sacrifice fly by Bree Fatheree but a Royals player was thrown out for not returning to first on the fly-out. The Reds questioned the scoring of the run on what they thought was a continuation play, much like a double-play, but after a 10-plus minute delay to consult the rule book, the run was allowed.

Fatheree sat the Reds down in order in the sixth to preserve the victory.

"This team has really improved their batting and defense and it showed tonight," Waldron said. "A game like this earlier in the season and they wouldn't have responded as well. They're playing with confidence."

Down 2-1 in the bottom of the third, Stadie was patient at the plate, as he waited for his pitch — a fastball down the middle — and sent it into center to plate a pair of runs to give the Royals a 3-2 lead.

"Austin hit a blistering shot that really got this team on their feet," Waldron said. "We've come close to winning against all the teams in our league and were just a couple plays short and couldn't put the runs across to win.
"They came to play ball tonight."

Being the resilient team that they are, the Reds battled back with a run in the fifth.

The first batter reached first on a throwing error, used some heads up base running to reach third and moments later crossed home plate to tie the game up with a runner on second.

But Fatheree got a strikeout to get out of the jam.

The Reds will get their chance at redemption when they face the Royals again on Thursday at 6 p.m.

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