jsibley@theeasleyprogress.com
CLEMSON - The Dixie Youth Baseball Tournament isn't over yet, but, it is over for the two home town teams that made it into the semi-finals, Central-Clemson and the Liberty All-Stars.
While Central-Clemson took on Gilbert, the Liberty All-Stars were waiting to take the field once the game was finished.
And what a finish it was.
Central-Clemson had fired back after Gilbert's Mitch Spires connected for a three run homer in the first inning. In the top of the second, Central-Clemson's Spencer Ardnt and John Garrett occupied first and second base after a walk and a single, respectively.
From there, Brandon Cloer ripped a sac fly deep into center after the base runners advanced on a passed ball. Ardnt scored putting Central-Clemson on the board.
Wade Craig, consistent hitter for Central-Clemson, then knocked a single passed the infield, scoring Cloer. They ended the inning getting two runs back, now at 3-2.
Christian Grooms, pitcher for the host team, closed out the next inning with two K's and a forced ground out.
Central-Clemson was in line to even out the scoreboard in the third and did just that - tipping the score in their favor - as Neil Monaghan and Spencer Arndt each had RBIs pushing them ahead 5-3.
In the fifth, Central-Clemson went on to score once again with Arndt pinched in a SAC fly RBI.
Now up by three runs, Central-Clemson had to complete three quick outs to shut down Gilbert in its last chance at-bat.
The first two outs came fast, just as they had hoped, but the last out never came before Gilbert pulled off a "miracle," as Terry Spires, Gilbert Head Coach, referred to it as.
Gilbert went on a major two-out rally, scoring four runs to win the game, 7-6.
The Liberty All-Stars also lost in the semi-finals against Summerville, who went undefeated through all of regionals and the current tournament.
Liberty finished 3rd after a final score on 4-1. Caleb Roberts, Liberty ace, only gave up three hits, one of which was a game winning grand slam in the third.
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