LC-M’s Johnson scores winning run for M-C Babe Ruth

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LC-M’s Johnson scores winning run for M-C Babe Ruth

Special to the Leader

The Orange Leader

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Taylor Eaves‚ two-out, full-count RBI single drove home Little Cypress-Mauriceville’s Matt Johnson in the bottom of the 10th inning Monday as Mid-County’s 16-year-old All-Stars scored a 5-4 extra-inning win over Union County, Ark., to remain unbeaten at the Babe Ruth World Series.

Johnson, whose three hits led a 12-hit Mid-County attack, had reached with his second double of the day after two were out.

The win assured Mid-County, 3-0 in the tournament, of qualifying for the six-team single-elimination bracket play that begins Thursday. The Southeast Texas team plays Burlington, Iowa, at 12:30 p.m. today to wrap up its pool play competition.

Eaves and Ryan Bearden each had two hits in a well-around attack that saw eight Mid-County players hit safely. Chad Sims‚ double was the only extra-base hit other than Johnson’s pair of two-baggers.

A three-run second inning helped by three Union County errors gave Mid-County an early 4-1 lead.

Sims opened the inning with a double and scored on an error. An error on Ryan Bearden’s single scored Matt Woods and then Bearden scored on the third miscue.

Union County battled back to score a single run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to tie up the game at 4-4 against Mid-County pitcher Conrad Roberts.

Roberts worked 8 and two-thirds innings, striking out 11 and allowing 10 hits and just two earned runs. Jesse Griffin retired all four batters he faced for the win.

Mid-County opened the game‚s scoring in the bottom of the first when Vidor’s Trae Hester singled with two outs, stole second base and scored on Johnson’s first double.

Union County tied the game in the top of the third with two hits and a walk off Roberts.