MONSTERS STAVE OFF WILD THINGS ON THE ROAD

WALESKA, Ga – Choccolocco weathered two Waleska comebacks in their 8-7 win on the road Wednesday night.  

The scoring opened in the second inning when a Jackson Sweatt double down the left field line brought home Dominic Scavone who had reached on an error in the previous at-bat. The double was Sweatt’s first of the campaign and the RBI was his fourth. Then, after a Jelani Howard single to right, Waleska would balk-in the second run of the inning, scoring Sweatt from third.  

Three defensive outs later and the Monsters were back in the dugout, poised to extend their lead. JJ Rapp began his big night at the plate with a single to the shortstop to lead off the top of the fourth inning. A walk to cleanup hitter Nate Shipley and a couple of stolen bases later, and the Monsters had runners on second and third for Weston Kirk, who would manufacture a run with a groundball to the right side, scoring Rapp. The pride of Stetson University, Dominic Scavone would come up with a two-out base knock to plate Shipley and make the score 4-0 exiting the fourth. The RBI was the Orlando native’s second of the year.  

After tallying another run in the fifth, Choccolocco would issue four walks and surrender five runs on just one hit in the bottom half of the frame to knot the game up. The Chocco’s offense was relentless however, as a two-run double down the left field line from JJ Rapp scored Brandon Prince and Josh Cooper in the seventh. The newest addition to the Monsters lineup, Weston Kirk, would register his first hit and RBI of the year after a single to right field scored Rapp from third.

All told, for just the second time this season the Monsters never trailed and would close out the game 8-7 after resisting another Waleska resurgence in the bottom of the ninth. In a career day, Lander University infielder JJ Rapp went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs. Jackson Sweatt and Jelani Howard both recorded multi-hit performances as well.  

On the hill, fans were treated to a fine start from Alexander McKay whose final line read 4.0 innings pitched, no earned runs, three hits and three strikeouts. AJ Jarrell earned the win on his home turf, as the Reinhardt University right hander tossed 3.2 innings, gave up just one earned run, and struck out two. Manager Steve Gillispie called on Harris Burns in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded and nobody out and the tying run standing on first base. Burns would Houdini his way out of the jam to preserve the lead and record his first save of the season.  

The Monsters now eye the home and away series this upcoming Friday and Saturday against division rival Columbus. The first pitch from Oxford is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT.