MONSTERS TAKE GAME ONE 5-4

OXFORD, AL - The Choccolocco Monsters survived a pair of home runs and a late rally from the Atlanta Crackers to win Game One of the Sunbelt Baseball League Final 5-4 on Wednesday at Choccolocco Park.

The Crackers got on the board first with a two-run home run from Kaleb Huffman in the top of the first inning. Huffman took a 3-2 pitch out over the wall in right center field to put his team ahead for the first time.

Choccolocco rallied with three runs in the third inning. After loading the bases, Hayes Harrison was hit by a pitch to bring in the first Monsters run of the game. That was followed by Taylor Harris' two-RBI single to put the Monsters up 3-2.

Another Crackers home run, this time a solo shot by Jaden Anderson, tied the game in the fifth.

The Monsters took the lead for good in the eighth, pushing across two runs. Harrison doubled home the first run, and then scored in Harris' third RBI of the night and second consecutive single.

In the ninth the Crackers would manage to score once but could not find the equalizer as Avery Brown shut down the rally in the ninth, earning the win with 1.2 innings of work. He allowed one run while striking out one of the seven batters he faced.

The scene now shifts to Atlanta for Game Two on Friday night at 6:05 pm CT. Coverage of the game will be provided on Sidearm Sports through the SBL website.