Auburn Orange stays alive in AAA World Series

By Mike Szvetitz
Sports Editor, Opelika-Auburn News
Published: August 6, 2008

LaGRANGE, Ga. — It’s becoming a trend.

The Auburn Orange AAA (9-10) All-Star team is making a living out of close calls as their stay in the Dixie Youth AAA World Series continued Wednesday with an 8-4 win over Charlotte County, Va.

Trailing 4-1 after three and a half innings, Auburn’s postseason was riding on fumes. But, just like that, Auburn exploded for two runs in the fourth and then five in the fifth to win their second consecutive game in the losers’ bracket.

“I don’t know what it is,” Auburn Orange head coach Van Northcutt said of his team’s nail-biting play. “Sometimes, they’ll click early. Sometimes, it’ll take a while. It’s hard to pinpoint.”

But what’s clear is the All-Star team’s results. They are still alive in the World Series and will play another losers’-bracket game at 4:30 p.m. today against North Carolina.

Auburn Orange has lost only two games this postseason. The first was in the state tournament, which they ended rallying to win the final four games to clinch a berth in the World Series. The second loss came to West Seminole, Fla., in the first round of the World Series on Monday. In that game, Auburn was up 4-0, only to lose 11-10.

Then, Tuesday, Auburn almost lost a seven-run lead to Texas, holding on in the final inning to win, 7-6.

Wednesday, Orange was on the ropes again after giving up three runs to Virginia in the top of the fourth to trail 4-1.

But, like they have all tournament, Auburn was able to do what it needed to win.

Down three runs, Auburn chipped away at the lead in the bottom of the fourth when it scored two runs. With bases loaded, Austin Triplett drew a walk to score Brad Norman. Later in the frame, Tyus Flakes would score on a wild pitch to make it a one-run game.

In the fifth, Auburn reliever Bradley Northcutt retired Virginia in order to keep the momentum on his team’s side.

In the fifth, John Flanagan gave Auburn a spark with a lead-off double to right center field. Rob Smith then singled to right to score Bryan Carter, who was pinch-running for Flanagan. That run tied the game at 4.

Smith would be the last batter that Virginia starter Joseph Reed would face. Reed, who held Auburn to just three hits, was lifted for Cameron Vassar. And Auburn took advantage.

A walk to Norman set up an RBI single by Northcutt, who plated Smith for the go-ahead run.

But Auburn wasn’t done. Flakes followed with a two-RBI single to center, scoring Norman and Northcutt. The center fielder would later score on a wild pitch to give Auburn Orange its four-run cushion.

“They never give up,” Van Northcutt said. “They keep battling every game. They believe they can win.”

Norman got the start on the mound for Auburn, giving up five hits and striking out four. Northcutt was credited with the win.

Auburn is two wins away from the championship round of the World Series, and is one of six teams still alive.

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