ATHENS LITTLE LEAGUE (MAJORS): FIREMEN TOP WILLIAMS TOYOTA, 8-5, IN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (2019-06-10)

Valley Sports Report
ATHENS - The Firemen jumped out to an 8-2 lead and held on for an 8-5 win over Williams Toyota here Saturday night in the championship game of the Athens Little League Majors Division baseball playoffs.

Williams Toyota took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two-run home run by Matthew Driesbaugh, but didn't score again until the sixth inning.

The Firemen responded with four runs in the bottom of the first. After singles by Cooper Robinson and Eli Hicks, Ethan Hicks tied the game with a two-RBI double. Brady Darrow gave the Firemen the lead for good with an RBI double, and scored on an RBI single by Graham Wanck to make it 4-2.

The Firemen added two runs in the second inning, the first scoring on an RBI single by Darrow, to make it 6-2.

They made it 8-2 in the bottom of the third inning on RBI singles by Alex McQuay and Robinson.

Williams Toyota scored three unearned runs in the top of the sixth, but Eli Hicks, who pitched a complete game, escape the jam to preserve the win.

Eli Hicks allowed five runs - two earned - on five hits, while striking out nine and walking none in six innings. He threw just 78 pitches.

Ethan Hicks doubled and singled, scored two runs, and had two RBI, and Darrow doubled and singled, scored one run, and drove in two runs to pace the Firemen's 12-hit attack, while Eli Hicks singled twice and scored two runs, and Robinson and McQuay each singled twice, scored one run, and drove in one run.

Wanck singled and drove in one run in the win, while Duncan Thetga added a single, and Chase Satterly scored one run.

Oliver Johnson singled twice, and scored one run for Williams Toyota, while Matthew Driesbaugh homered and drove in two runs, and Ryan Driesbaugh added a double in the six-hit attack.

Matthias Welles singled and scored two runs for Williams, while Braden Reed singled, and Charan Venkataswamy scored one run.

Dylan Saxon turned in best outing on the mound for Williams Toyota, striking out two, while walking one and allowing one hit 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.