Tazewell all stars finish second in district

By DAVE COX/Staff
HONAKER- After faltering in their first meeting with Honaker, Tazewell’s Bulldogs got a reprieve by coming from behind to beat Richlands to set up a second and perhaps third meeting with the Tigers in the championship round of the District 11 All-Star 11-12 year-old baseball tournament at Doug Bailey Field.
To force a third game against Honaker, Tazewell had to first win last Thursday- mission accomplished! The Bulldogs held on for a hard fought 2-1 win in seven innings to force another meeting of the two teams last Saturday to determine a champion in the double elimination tournament (The Tigers won that second game 7-4 to become the fourth Honaker team to win the District 11 tournament held at Honaker- a clean sweep of the event. Honaker claimed the 11-12 girl’s softball title, the 11-12 major baseball, the junior 13-14 baseball and the senior 15-16 baseball titles).
Thursday’s contest was a pitcher’s duel until the top of the fifth when the Bulldogs finally broke through for a run. Doubles by Alex Griffith and Chris Buchanan gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 edge before Honaker responded with a run in the bottom of the inning. Gabe McGlothlin singled and scored on a fielder’s choice play off the bat of Corey Ray to knot things at 1-1.
Regulation ended in the 1-1 tie forcing a seventh inning. Buchanan ended the drama with a solo home run to lead off the extra inning. That shot was the eventual game winner, but Honaker didn’t go away quietly. Jake Mitchell beat out a bunt single to start the bottom of the seventh for the Tigers. The next player hit into a double play before Austin Kiser was walked intentionally. Tazewell relief pitcher Brett Jones then fanned the final batter to end the game.