Three different Valley Cubs homered in Alexandria’s 11-2 victory. The win clinched a playoff spot for Alexandria (17-4, 4-1 Class 4A, Area 12), while Cherokee County dropped to 12-9 (2-3 area).
Alexandria took the lead early on the Warriors in the top of the first inning. Three straight walks loaded the bases, but Warrior pitcher Matt Hincy only yielded a run on a sacrifice fly by Josh Haynes.
The Warriors tied the game at a run apiece in the bottom of the first on an errant throw by Haynes with runners at the corners. Caleb Kines, who walked in the inning, scored on the throw to tie the game.
Cherokee County took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second on another Valley Cub error, but that lead was short-lived.
Ethan Vinyard connected on a two-run homer to left field in the top of the third after Trey Shaw doubled to left to lead off the inning. Vinyard’s homer gave Alexandria a 3-2 lead.
Cherokee County mounted a threat in the bottom of the fourth by loading the bases with no outs, but Alexandria starter Taylor Shanks dug in to retire the next three Warriors he faced to end the threat.
The Valley Cubs tacked on two more runs in the fifth to push its lead to 5-2 on a passed ball. Alexandria added another run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Brett Henderson, making it 6-2 Valley Cubs.
Hunter Kelley and Reggie Patterson put the exclamation point on Alexandria’s win in the seventh. Both players connected on two-run homers to left off Warrior reliever Ben Chester.
Kelley led Alexandria at the plate by going 2 for 3. Patterson went 2 for 4.
Shanks earned the win after working five innings, allowing four hits with five strikeouts. Vinyard closed out the game by working the final two innings with five strikeouts.
Coty Blanchard went 2 for 4 to lead the Warriors at the plate. Hincy was 1 for 3 with a double. Cole Sterling was also 1 for 3 and Weston Gifford went 1 for 2 with a walk.
Hincy suffered the loss after working six innings. He gave up six runs off of six hits with four walks and three strikeouts.
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