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Morganton 11-12 All-Stars crush Avery

By Tommy Fleming | The News Herald

Published: July 2, 2009

Collettsville — The Morganton Little League 11-12 All-Stars had a spectacular pitching performance from James Antley during Wednesday's second round contest against Avery County in the District 7 tournament held in Collettsville.
Morganton captured a 10-0 victory in four innings.
Antley, with the help of catcher Ray Pierce, pitched a masterpiece in keeping the Avery batters off stride the entire game. Antley surrendered two hits, walked one and struck out eight in claiming the win.
"James pitched very well," Morganton All-Stars coach Eric Totty said. "We must stay focused and get more hits early. We need to be more consistent."
The Morganton defense played an error free game as well. Centerfielder Trenton Totty, battling the blazing sun, made an acrobatic catch for the game's first out. Shortstop Jonas Bradshaw and first baseman Logan Pearson made pop-fly catches in the infield, while second baseman Greyson Moses fielded a routine grounder in the third inning to keep Avery scoreless.
Morganton's offensive explosion occurred in the home half of the third inning. The All-Stars scored nine runs on eight hits.
Bradshaw led off with a single then moved quickly to third on passed balls. Moses singled to center to plate Bradshaw with Morganton's first run. Donnie Patton came in to pinch run for Moses.
Totty then sent a towering hit to deep left field that hit the fence to put runners on the corners. Pierce then delivered a two-RBI single to put the All-Stars up 3-0.
Pearson reached base via an Avery error. Third baseman Garrett Clemmons followed with a RBI groundout that scored Pierce.
Antley singled to left-center field to score Pearson to put the All-Stars ahead 5-0. Ben Buff reached on an infield single before Peyton Mull hit a RBI-double to plate Antley. Patton singled to score both Buff and Mull to push the lead to eight. Patton moved to third on passed balls then scored on a RBI groundout by William Kirk.
Morganton scored its final run in the fourth inning. Pierce led off with a single. Bradshaw entered as a courtesy runner, then scored when Pearson rocketed a line drive to the right-center field fence to end the game.
"Our offense was kind of shaky to begin the game. Then Jonas got us started offensively," Totty said. "We loosened up and began hitting the ball."
Morganton advances to the third round and with play either East Catawba or West Caldwell on July 11.
Avery 000 0 — 0
Morganton 009 1 — 10