By Bobby Mathews, Sports Editor
LEEDS — The Green Wave used a four-run burst in the first inning and Andrew Howard earned the victory on the mound to beat Ramsay 6-1 in here on Wednesday, March 23, 2022.
Alex Bradford got things off to a hot start for Leeds with a double, and Conner Nelson walked to put two men on. Will Landers stroked a single to move the runners over, and Caden Vance knocked an infield single to shortstop that scored Bradford. Peyton Moore hit a sacrifice fly to score Tabari Davis, who was in as a courtesy runner for Nelson, and the Green Wave was up 2-0 with one out.
Landers, now on third, capitalized on a passed ball to score and make it 3-0 for Leeds. Jarod Latta then legged out an infield single to score Vance. By the time the first inning was over, it was already 4-0, Leeds.
Nelson came up to bat to start the bottom of the second for Leeds, clouting a home run to left field on the second pitch he saw. It was 5-0 Leeds at that point.
Ramsay struck back in the top of the sixth after Howard gave up two singles and two walks. Despite picking off a runner at first earlier in the inning, Leeds couldn’t stop Jared Strothers, who scored on a double steal to make it 5-1, Green Wave.
After Ramsay’s William Murray was hit by a pitch to extend the inning, Seth Pardue came on in relief to strike out Amar Sessions to end the inning.
Bradford then popped to Sessions in the bottom of the sixth — a ball the second baseman couldn’t handle — and then a pair of walks loaded the bases. Vance hit into a fielder’s choice that took out Bradford at home, and then Moore hit a sacrifice fly to left field to make it 6-1 when Davis — again running for Nelson — scored.
Landers came on in the top of the seventh to close the Rams out 1-2-3, getting the last two batters on strikeouts.
Bradford went 2-for-4 and scored, while Landers went 1-for-3 with a walk. Moore was 0-for-2 but had a pair of RBIs. Vance went 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Nelso went 1-for-2 with the homer and a pair of walks.
Howard pitched 5 2/3 innings to get the win. For Ramsay, Eli Speights took the loss.