ADDISON, Ala. — On a brisk night at lovely Addison High School, the bulldogs hosted the Falkville Blue Devils in both teams’ second game of the season. Both teams came in with a 1-0 record, but the Bulldogs sent the Blue Devils home after just five innings with a 10-0 loss.
Addison’s Luke Waldrep got his second start of the season and he was dominant once again. Waldrep got the Devils three up and three down on the opening frame and was assisted by right fielder Jake Wilson who made a highlight reel diving catch that brought the Dawg faithful to their feet. Addison shortstop Jessie Brock opened up Addison’s half of the first with a leadoff walk. After an infield popup, Colton Tyree walked and with runners on first and second and one out, Nelson Martin singled to center to load the bases. Wilson drew a walk to bring Brock home for the Bulldogs first run. That is how the first inning ended with Addison up 1-0 over Falkville.
Falkville got a little rally going on Waldrep in the second inning, but the question was could they score. After a lead off groundout, the Devils came through with back to back singles, putting runners on first and second with only one out. Just when it looked like Falkville was going to plate a run, Waldrep buckled down and struck out the next two Blue Devils to end the threat.
Addison’s second inning proved to be the downfall of the Blue Devils. Lawson Alexander reached on a leadoff error. Brody Dollar hit a fly ball to center and the ball popped out of the fielder’s glove, putting runners on first and second with no one out. Cannon Hiller stroked a single to center, loading the bases. Brock walked again, scoring Alexander. Bret Smith lined a single to score Dollar, but Hiller was thrown out at the plate by a tremendous throw from the center fielder Wyatt King. Tyree singled to score Brock and Martin doubled to score Smith and Wilson. Will Tuggle reached on an error to load the bases again and a passed ball allowed Martin and Wilson to score. The inning ended with the Bulldogs plating six runs to take a commanding 7-0 lead after two.
Waldrep again breezed through the third inning notching another strikeout. Addison scored their final runs in the bottom of the inning. Brock walked for the third time and Smith was hit by a pitch. One out later, Martin picked up his third hit of the night with a single to right, loading the bases. After a strikeout, Tuggle singled scoring both Brock and Smith. Martin scored on a wild pitch and the Dawg rally ended. At the end of three, Addison led 10-0.
The final two innings were Waldrep continuing to confuse the Devil bats. Waldrep scattered a hit and walk while striking out four in the last two innings. Waldrep got the complete game victory as Addison run ruled the Devils 10-0 in five innings.
Addison Head Man John Everett picked up his second win of the season and is proud of the way his unit is playing at this early point of the season.
“I was very impressed how we hit the ball tonight. We missed some opportunities in the Good Hope game. We had many quality at bats tonight. Our guys are getting it and are proving to be patient hitters,” Everett said. “I got what I expected from Luke tonight. He is a leader and he trusts his defense. He has great stuff, but I told him you don’t have to strike everybody out. The guys behind you will pick you up.”
Reflecting on the game, Everett had to mention Wilson’s defensive play in the first inning that set the tone for the night and kept runs off the board.
“I thought that Jake set the tone for the game in the first inning with the first batter. He made a tremendous catch which robbed Falkville of a hit,” Everett said. “I mean the next batter walked and if Jake doesn’t make that catch, they have two on and no one out. It could have changed the game.”
Stat lines for the game: Waldrep pitched five innings, three hits, two walks and nine strikeouts. That gives Waldrep 19 strikeouts in nine innings of work this season.
Brock had three walks, an RBI and three runs scored. Smith had one hit, an RBI and two runs scored. Tyree finished with a hit and a run scored. Martin had three hits including a double with an RBI and two runs scored. Tuggle had one hit and an RBI and Wilson had two walks with an RBI.
Addison moves to 2-0 on the season and the Bulldogs will host Hanceville Friday night at 4:30.
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