Ben’s Ford blanks Christian Collegiate Academy, 11-0
Published 8:39 am Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Ben’s Ford Christian School used a seven-run fourth inning to break the game open in an 11-0 victory over Christian Collegiate Academy on a windy Friday afternoon at home.
The Eagles led, 4-0, through three innings, but then the floodgates opened. Ben’s Ford scored seven runs on just three hits while taking advantage of three Bulldogs’ errors.
Will Owens began the rally with a one-out double that one-hopped the left field fence. Cole Williams then reached on a throwing error and eventually swiped second during Payton Knight’s at bat. Knight drew a walk. Shelby Culpepper, who went 1-for-2 with a homer, three runs batted in and three runs scored, was up next, and he a grounder to third, but the throw to second was high. Owens would’ve scored on the play, but the miscue allowed Williams to tally for a 6-0 lead. Garrett Pounds, who was 2-for-3, then got a base hit to right, plating Knight with the seventh run. David Pittman recorded an infield hit to third, as Culpepper beat the throw home, and it was 8-0. Pounds, who stole second, moved to third on the play and scored on a wild pitch to make it 9-0. Daniel Pittman struck out but the ball hit the dirt. Pittman was out at first 2-3, but Pounds scored and the Eagles were up 10-0.
Ernesto Woods walked and moved to second and third on separate wild pitches before scoring when Josh Crain reached on an error to reflect the final score of 11-0.
Pounds breezed through the fifth with a ground back to him, a walk and a strikeout. Catcher Culpepper picked off the runner who walked on a throw to Destin Pittman.
Crain was one of three pitchers used by the Eagles. Knight started and went two innings before Williams took the mound for a frame, followed by Pounds for the final two innings.
The three combined to throw a four-hit shutout with eight strikeouts and just one walk.
Knight did a great job of getting through a jam in the first inning. The first two hitters, Micah Williams and Devon Roberts, reached for the Bulldogs. Williams stole third on a delayed attempt, and Roberts swiped second. Facing runners at second-and-third with one out, Knight got the next hitter to strike out, and then Knight was out trying to steal home.
Ben’s Ford got on the board in the first. Culpepper got hit before stealing second and advancing to third on a passed ball. Destin Pittman drove him in with a single to make it 1-0.
The Eagles extended the lead to 4-0 with a three spot in the third.
Knight singled and that brought Culpepper to the plate. Culpepper swung and belted a pitch to centerfield. The fielder went back, but this was gone, a 2-run homer. It was Culpepper’s first career high school home run and the Eagles were ahead 3-0.
Culpepper said he got a fastball. He talked about rounding the bases.
“It was pretty exciting,” Culpepper said.
Pounds continued the rally with a single. He eventually scored on Destin Pittman’s sacrifice fly. The first baseman caught it going back before hitting the ground. The run made it 4-0.
Pounds retired CCA in order in the fourth. Ben’s Ford put up seven in the bottom of the frame en route to the victory.