Eagles finish a strong season in the Lead Eight

The David Emanuel Academy Eagles faced the Westwood Wildcats in a three-game series on May 15-16th in Stillmore. In game one, Richard Braddy drove in four runs on two hits to lead the Eagles past the Wildcats 14-4 on Thursday. Braddy hit a home run to left field in the fifth inning, scoring three runs, and singled in the fourth inning, scoring two. Brody Fleming struck out 12 batters on the day. An error put Westwood Wildcats on the board in the top of the first. Westwood Wildcats extended their early lead with two runs in the top of the third. The Eagles flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the third, scoring six runs on three hits to take the lead, 6-3. The biggest blow in the inning was a home run to left field by Fleming that drove in three. The David Emanuel Academy Eagles scored five runs on three hits in the bottom of the fifth inning. Fleming singled, scoring one run, Braddy homered to left field, scoring three runs, and Layton Terwilliger hit a sacrifice fly, scoring one run. The Eagles piled up nine hits in the game. Cooper Riner went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Eagles in hits. Karson Kettles collected two hits for the Eagles in four at bats. Clayton Hood paced the Eagles with three walks. Overall, the team had patience at the plate, piling up 10 walks for the game. Riner and Hood each stole multiple bases for the Eagles. Overall, the Eagles ran wild on the base paths, tallying seven stolen bases for the game.

Even though the DEA Eagles collected 11 hits to Westwood Wildcats’s nine, they still fell 13-11 in Game 2. Richard Braddy led the Eagles with three hits. The DEA Eagles collected 11 hits and Westwood Wildcats had nine in the high-scoring affair. The Eagles got on the board in the top of the first inning after Sailor Powell doubled, scoring one run, and Clayton Hood homered to left field, scoring two runs. Westwood Wildcats took the lead in the bottom of the third. An error scored two runs, to give Westwood Wildcats the advantage, 4-3. A double by Clayton Hood gave DEA the lead, 5-4, in the top of the fourth. The Wildcats flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the fourth, scoring nine runs on four hits to take the lead, 13-5. The biggest blow in the inning was a home run to center field by Sam Summerlin that drove in three. The Eagles scored five runs on four hits in the top of the fifth inning. Cooper Riner doubled, scoring one run, Powell singled, scoring three runs, and an error scored one run. The Eagles tallied 11 hits in the game. Hood and Powell were a one-two punch in the lineup, as each drove in three runs for DEA. Riner collected two hits for the Eagles in four at bats, and the Eagles stole five bases in the game.

In Game 3, the Wildcats defeated the Eagles 12-0 in part to seven runs in the fifth inning. Westwood Wildcats opened the scoring in the first after Kayden Gunn homered to center field, scoring two runs. Sam Summerlin homered to center field, scoring three runs in the top of the fourth for the Westwood Wildcats. Westwood Wildcats scored seven runs on three hits in the top of the fifth inning. Layton Terwilliger induced Will Curles to hit into a fielder’s choice, but one run scored, Karson Barwick singled, scoring one run, Summerlin drew a walk, scoring one run, an error scored one run, Liam Rogers drew a walk, scoring one run, and Cade Swilley doubled, scoring two runs.

Bryce Roberts earned the win for Westwood Wildcats. The righty surrendered four hits and zero runs over five innings, striking out two and walking none. Clayton Hood took the loss for David Emanuel Academy Eagles. The hurler went four innings, surrendering six runs on three hits, striking out five and walking seven. Tucker Free, Cooper Riner, Karson Kettles, and Gannon Smith each collected one hit for the Eagles. David Emanuel Academy Eagles turned one double play in the game.

The Eagles finished up the season strong as one of the Lead Eight teams, and look forward to coming back even stronger next season.

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