WEST POINT, Ala. – The West Point Warriors came into Monday night’s game against Decatur 6-1 in their last seven games and looked to keep that stretch going against the Red Raiders. It was close throughout the entire contest and was tied going into the sixth inning, but big hits by seniors Boston Freeman and Charlie Ashley, plus some strong pitching in the end by Dawson Crow helped the Warriors get past Decatur, 6-4.
Freeman started the game for West Point and worked around a two-out error to get out of the inning without allowing a run. Freeman led off the Warrior half of the first with a double, then a fly ball moved him over to third. Two pitches later, he scored on an error to give West Point the early lead. Freeman retired the Red Raiders in order on just eight pitched in the second. The Warriors looked to add to their lead in their half, as they loaded the bases with two outs, but a line out ended the inning.
Decatur got a two-out rally going in the top of the third, as two straight singles, a passed ball and a two-run single to left field gave them a 2-1 lead. West Point answered right back in their half. Ashley led off the inning with a single, then Breyelee Woodard came in as his pinch runner. Dathan Cleghorn lined a single to left field, and during the play, an error allowed Woodard and Cleghorn to move up to second and third. Crow drove in a run on a ground ball to tie the game up at two, then on the first pitch, Cleghorn scored on a passed ball to put the Warriors up, 3-2.Â
West Point cooked up a two-out rally in their next at-bats. Cooper Howard lined a double to left field, then he came around to score on an RBI double by Freeman to make it 4-2. Decatur, though, quickly got their offense going in the top of the fifth. A hit by pitch to lead off the inning would later lead to an RBI single, as that cut it to 4-3. The Red Raiders would load the bases with one out, and a sacrifice fly tied things up at four. Decatur put a pair of runners on base with two outs, but Crow got the next batter to line out to keep the game tied up at four.
The Warriors looked to get the lead right back in their half. Skylar Echols drew a one-out walk, then a wild pitch and a ground ball moved him up to third. The biggest hits of the game would come from two of West Point’s seniors, as Freeman hit a bloop RBI single over the shortshop’s head to give the Warriors a 5-4 lead. Decatur brought in a new pitcher, but that didn’t faze Ashley one bit, as he lined the first pitch he saw into right field for an RBI double to make it 6-4. Crow got the first two Red Raider hitters out on just six pitches later, then after walking the next batter, he got the next hitter to ground out to end the game, as West Point ended up defeating Decatur 6-4.
Freeman led the way for the Warriors with three hits and two RBIs, while Ashley (two hits) and Crow each drove in a run in the win. The duo of Freeman and Crow combined to give up just six hits and four runs (three earned), walked three, and struck out seven.
West Point head coach Tyler Morgan was pleased to see his team come away with the win over a game Decatur squad and was proud of the way Freeman and Crow pitched in the game.
“I thought we competed well, especially in the box. Decatur’s starter has a good arm, so we got in there and just battled, and got hits when we needed to get them,” Morgan said. “Dawson Crow has become a little bit of a dog for us lately. Boston’s obviously our guy, but Crow has come a long way, so we’re really proud of him.”
Coach Morgan loves the way his team has been playing over the last couple of weeks and hopes to see them continue to do that with the county tournament coming up this weekend.
“Our guys have just brought a lot of energy, a lot of effort, a lot of focus to the field, and they’ve been getting after it,” Morgan said. “We’re going to keep hitting it hard, keep getting after it, and have a lot of fun playing the game.”
West Point are now 12-6 on the season and are 7-1 in their last eight games. They will look to continue their hot stretch at Elkmont on Tuesday night.
