Sports

Shellhaas helps Albany Dixie move on

• Sam Shellhaas hits a two-run home run as Albany Dixie advances to the third round of the state tournament.

Mike Flynn
Staff Correspondent

ALBANY — Albany Dixie advanced to the third round of the Dixie Major League State Tournament with a 6-1 win over Wrens Sunday evening.

Albany jumped out in the first inning when Sam Shellhaas hit a towering two-run homer to right driving in lead off hitter Gil Gillespie who doubled to start the game.

“I knew it was gone as soon as I hit it,” said Shellhaas, who finished with two hits on the day.

Wrens struggled at the plate walking the bases full in the second. Then Walt Mathews reached on an error which scored three runs. Garrett Hogencamp got his first RBI in the tournament brining in Mathews on a fielders choice.

Austin Murphy started on the mound and went two innings, allowing one run.

He struck out four, surrendered one hit, walked one and hit two batters.

Gillespie pitched the middle two innings without giving up a run and only one hit. He also struck out two and walked a batter. Brett Shepard got his first action from the mound for Albany in the final two innings.

Shepard allowed one hit and struck out four and looked overpowering.

The win sets up a showdown Monday night with District 5 Champion Lumpkin who has played two consecutive games with only 11 players despite the rule requiring all 12 roster spots be filled. In the opening game Lumpkin did not have David Williams, and Nicholas Watford was absent on Sunday when the team trounced Newton County National 15-3.

“He has a real bad stomach problem. It might even be his appendix,” said Lumpkin coach Chuck Goree of Watford’s absence.

David Williams did manage to overcome his Saturday illness to start for Lumpkin against Newton County pitching two innings and allowing three runs.

The Albany International team lost 10-0 to Winder in a late game Sunday.

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