Altamont Advances To NTC Title Game

North Clay edged out to a 1-0 first inning lead on a single by Logan Fleener to start the game. Brady Ingram then reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second on a single by Donnie Zimmerman. A throwing error brought Ingram home.

But Altamont came back in the bottom of the first to move ahead 2-1. With one out, Tyler Robbins doubled and Bradin Baucum followed with an intentional walk. Both advanced on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly by Jared Hammer scored one run and the second came home on a single by Wyatt Phillips.

Both teams were quiet in the second inning. The Cardinals then moved ahead with a run in the third on a double by Collyn Ballard who stole third and came home on a passed ball.

Altamont then moved ahead again in the bottom of the third. With one out, Robbins reached first on an error. With two outs, Hammer singled and Robbins scored on a ground rule double by Phillips.

North Clay tied in the fourth on a single by Zimmerman, a stolen base and a wild pitch moved him to third and he then came home to tie the score at 3-3.

The Cardinals then moved ahead in the top of the fifth 6-3. Dakota Teague singled and went to second on an error. Ballard followed with a single and both runners came home on a double by Fleener. A double play on a ball hit by Holden Clifton cleared the bases of North Clay players. But Ingram followed with a shot over the centerfield fence.

Altamont didn't give up and the Indians came right back in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Robbins, Baucum and Hammer followed with back-to-back-to-back singles. With two outs, Mason Robinson produced a single, bringing home a run. Kaden Eirhart followed with a single and two RBI and Logan Cornett had a single and an RBI. Those three players had all gone 0-for-2 coming into the inning.

Altamont tacked on two more in the sixth, again with two outs. Baucum singled, Hammer drew a walk and Robinson came through once again with a single that brought both runners home.

Five Altamont players finished with two hits each while two more had a single each. Phillips and Robbins had a single and a double. Phillips added an RBI. Baucum, Hammer and Robinson had two singles each. Hammer had an RBI and Robinson three RBI. Eirhart had a single and two RBI and Cornett a single and an RBI.

Fleener led North Clay with two singles, a double and two RBI while Ingram had the homer, Zimmerman two singles and Ballard a single and double.

Third-seeded St. Anthony will play at top-seeded Altamont for the tournament championship at 4 p.m. on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com. Fourth-seeded North Clay will play at second-seeded South Central at 4 p.m. on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

St. Anthony claimed an 8-7 win over South Central to advance to the title contest.

Altamont improves to 15-7 while North Clay dropped to 15-8.

At Altamont

North Clay          101    130    0    --    6-  9-3

Altamont             201    042    x    --    9-12-2

WP -- Phillips. LP -- Burkett.

North Clay -- Fleener, 2 singles, double, 2 RBI; Ingram, home run (fifth, none on), 1 RBI; Zimmerman, 2 singles; Teague, single; Ballard, single, double

Altamont -- Robbins, single, double; Baucum, 2 singles; Hammer, 2 singles, 1 RBI; Phillips, single, double, 1 RBI; Robinson, 2 singles, 3 RBI; Eirhart, single  2 RBI; Cornett, single, 1 RBI