Gators win two on the diamond

The Wewahitchka Gators won twice on the baseball diamond last week, although the second win came about in a very unorthodox way. In doing so, Wewa improved their record to 6-13. 

Blasting 15 hits and swiping 22 bases, the Gators overwhelmed the Vernon Yellowjackets 15-6 on Monday, April 17. 

With Wewa holding a 3-1 lead, Vernon scored four times in the third to take a brief 5-3 lead only to see the Gators respond with six runs in the fourth to secure a lead that they would not relinquish. 

Each team scored a run in the fifth, and the Gators added three more in the sixth and a final two runs in the seventh for the margin of victory. 

Terrell Williams not only earned the win, but set the pace at the plate with his five hits, including a double and a triple. Scoring three times, he also drove in two runs. 

Nathan Combs, Caleb Cooper, and Gunner Grogan each hit safely twice, with Combs scoring twice, Cooper scoring once and driving in two, and Grogan scoring two runs and driving in one. Grogan also added a double to the attack. 

Brody Lemieus hit a double, scored a run and drove in one; Avery Davis had a hit, scored two runs, and drove in two runs; Walker Bailey added a hit and scored twice; and JaCorey Williams had a hit and a run. 

Austin Hunter scored a run, Landon Lanier drove in a run, and Jakwavian Gray drove in two runs. 

Davis and Terrell Williams led the Wewa running attack with five thefts each, and Bailey added three more toward the stolen base total. 

JaCorey Williams pitched the final two innings, allowing no Yellowjacket hits and no runs. 

“We have come a long way since November with our program,” said Gator coach Bobby Hughes. “The players have had a lot to learn in a short period of time, and are peaking at the right time.” 

Thursday night’s win at Malone (11-5) came about in a most unusual way. 

With the Gators ahead 10-7 in the third inning, “the lights went out, and we couldn’t finish (so) we won because of their issue,” said Hughes. 

Prior to the premature darkness, Wewa had scored three in the first and seven more in the second. 

Cooper, Davis, Grogan, JaCorey Williams, and T. Williams each had two hits, with Bailey and Combs getting the other Gator hits.

Combs, Grogan, and T. Williams each scored twice, with Bailey, Davis, Gray, and J. Williams scoring the other runs. 

In the brief action, the Gators added five stolen bases. 

“We still are very young and improving every day,” said Hughes. “These wins will push us even more with one week left in the season and the district tournament around the corner.” 

After playing at Port St. Joe on Monday, April 24, the Gators hosted Poplar Springs the following night and will wrap up the regular season at Poplar Springs this Thursday, April 27.