Auburn Orange All-Stars eliminated by North Carolina

By Tom Peavy

Published: August 7, 2008

LaGRANGE, Ga. — Auburn Orange had its chances, but just couldn’t seem to cash them in.

And the result was Lumberton, N.C., knocking off Auburn, 9-3 — a score much more lopsided than the game told.

The loss ended Auburn’s run in the Dixie Youth AAA (9-10) World Series after an opening loss to Florida followed by wins again Texas and Virginia.

“These kids enjoyed the tournament and I’m very proud of them,” Auburn Orange manager Van Northcutt said. “They’ve devoted their summer to baseball and have done an outstanding job.”

Auburn hurt itself in the field with walks, wild pitches and errors — but it was at the plate where the All-Stars couldn’t seem to get itself together.

Auburn got the leadoff runner on base in all but the sixth inning, but managed a single run in the third and two in the fifth.

For the game Auburn left 13 runners stranded, including leaving the bases loaded in the fifth while trailing by just three runs.

“We had the bases loaded a couple of times but just couldn’t seem to get that hit when we needed it to get the runs in,” Northcutt said.

While North Carolina had its share of hits, Auburn helped their opponent with six walks, a hit batter to bring in a run, a costly error that scored two runs and three wild pitches to allow runs to score.

“We knew they’d hit the ball but we also had a few missed opportunities out there when we should have had an out,” Northcutt said. “And that came back to hurt us.”

North Carolina jumped ahead in the bottom of the second with three runs.

A leadoff single and two walks loaded the bases. After a strikeout, Jamal Cromartie was hit by a pitch to bring the game’s first run in.

Alec Brewington followed with an RBI single to center and a third run scored on a wild pitch.

After Auburn cut the lead to 2 runs in the top of the third, North Carolina responded with another three-run inning.

Austin Swiderski had an RBI double, but the biggest play came off the bat of Hunter Barfield.

With two outs and runners at the corners, Barfield hit a shot to right field that was misplayed — allowing the ball to roll to the fence and two runs to score.

Auburn finally put up a serious threat in the fifth.

Rob Smith led off with a walk and scored two batters later when Bradley Northcutt singled and it was booted in the outfield.

Tyus Flakes then walked and Austin Triplett singled to load the bases.

Ryan Watson was able to get one run home on a single, but Hayden Williams lined out to the pitcher and Ben Ruffin struck out swinging to end the inning with the bases juiced.

North Carolina added three insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth and Auburn failed to score in the top of the sixth despite loading the bases with one out.

Watson had the big bat for Auburn, going 3-for-3 with an RBI. Bradley Northcutt was 3-for-4, Brad Norman was 2-for-4 and Smith was 2-for-2.

Brewington paced North Carolina with a 2-for-4, two RBI game.

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