Tazewell all stars open tournament with big win

By DAVE COX/Staff
HONAKER- Host team Honaker was tabbed as the favorite to win the District 11 All-Star 11-12 year-old Little League baseball tournament which got underway last Friday at Doug Bailey Field in Honaker, but the Tazewell Bulldogs wasted no time in making their bid to stand behind the pennant at the end of the double elimination event.
The ‘Dawgs used precise pitching by several different hurlers and plenty of power at the plate to dispose of their first opponent Bluefield in short order, a lopsided 21-0 shutout on Friday evening. The game was called after four innings on the 10-run mercy rule after Tazewell plated five runs in the first inning, nine in the second, five in the third and two in the fourth. Meanwhile, five different Bulldog pitchers threaded the needle against Bluefield, giving up just four hits and striking out 11 batters.
Colin Hancock started on the mound for the Bulldogs and stayed there only one inning. He allowed one hit and fanned two batters. By the time Bluefield came to bat in the second frame, Tazewell was holding a comfortable 14-0 edge. Alex Griffith took over on the hill to start the inning, but faced just four batters before giving way to Chris Buchanan, who closed the door on Bluefield with two quick strikeouts. Griffith whiffed one batter and gave up one hit, but walked two batters.
Buchanan returned to the mound to start the third, but left after striking out the only two batters he faced in that frame. Justin Hankins relieved Buchanan and finished the inning. Bluefield produced its only threat of the game against Hankins, who sandwiched a walk between two singles to load the bases before striking out the next batter to end the inning. Isyah Hagy did mop up duty with three straight strikeouts in the bottom of the fourth to end the game.
Eight different Tazewell players managed 18 hits in the game, led by Hancock with four. Griffith and Brody Dean slapped out three safeties each. Hagy, Hankins and Buchanan got two hits apiece and Bobby Mitchell and Caleb Ashley had one each.
With both Tazewell and Honaker still in the winner’s bracket after their first games, the two teams seem destined to cross paths before the tournament ends, which should lead to some great Little League baseball entertainment for fans from both towns.