BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity baseball team spotted Bennett a big early lead, battled back through the middle innings and fell just short to the Clippers in the state 3A-East tournament on Monday.
A slew of walks and a timely hit staked Bennett to an early 5-0 lead in the first inning in the 3A-East second-round game at Decatur on Monday but there was no quit in the Seahawks. Decatur got one back in the bottom of the first on a double by University of Miami-bound Tristan McDonough and still had two on with no outs, but could not push another run across in the frame.
The Seahawks settled down on the mound and in the field and continued to chip away at Bennett’s early lead. Decatur scored two more in the third inning and one more in the fourth to cut the lead to 7-4. The Seahawks went to work trailing 7-4 entering the bottom of the seventh. They rallied for two runs to cut the lead to 7-6 and still had the bases loaded with McDonough coming up to the plate.
McDonough skied a ball deep to left, but the Bennett fielder hauled it in to close out the 7-6 win and eliminate Decatur. With the win, the Clippers advanced and will carry the Bayside South banner into the sectional final.