Clearwater's Kyle Randolph slides into second as he is tagged out by Neelyville's Sheldon Edmundson in the sixth inning Monday in Piedmont. (Alex Abate/DAR) [Click to enlarge]

By ALEX ABATE ~ DAR Sports Writer

PIEDMONT -- Justin Dobbins was back on the field Monday at Clearwater but this time he was wearing a purple pullover and purple hat as the coach of the Neelyville Tigers.

Clearwater won 5-3 against its former coach, the same man that just last spring, took them all the way to the state quarterfinals before losing to eventual state champion Scott City.

"It's hard, you know," Dobbins said. "Not to long ago, you are interviewing me out there in center field after we had the state champion beat and lost. All these guys that start for (Clearwater) were freshman and they had me to start their high school career -- these guys hold a spot, they are special to me too."

Clearwater shortstop Kendall Fay, now a junior, said seeing Dobbins in the other dugout wearing purple was a bit strange.

"It was different because we are used to him being over here," Fay said. "It is part of life, you move teams."

Clearwater (11-1) went into the top of the seventh with a 5-1 lead and a solid play by Fay secured the win. Austin Russom started the rally with a double off the left-field wall and Jordan Thomas singled through the hole on the left side to put runners at the corners.

Curtis Hansen followed with a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Russom to make it 5-2. After Josh Norden reached on an error, Zack Talbott walked to load the bases. A grounder to third made it 5-3 before Garrett Griffin hit a laser up the middle but Fay layed out to his left and ended the threat and the game by catching the line drive.

"That one, I was just thinking 'try to keep it in the infield," Fay said. "It was mainly just reaction. (Griffin) hit that ball hard and I just happened to get lucky and caught it."

Griffin did his job at the plate in that situation, Dobbins said.

"I'm talking to Garrett about, it's 3-1, don't get cheated, get the barrel out," Dobbins said. "He did exactly what he's supposed to. He gets a fastball, hits it hard, they make a heck of a play."

With two outs in the sixth, Clearwater extended its 3-1 lead with two insurance runs. Cole Ezell got a bunt down with runners at second and third and the throw ended up in right field allowing Jordan Devenport to score. A single later in the inning by Kyle Randolph made it 5-1.

"At the end, we got a couple key bunts down in the bottom of the sixth inning that allowed us to score a couple runs," Clearwater coach Joe McAlister said. "Those turned out to be big."

Clearwater took a 3-0 lead in the third inning before Neelyville plated one in the fourth.

"We are starting to get some of our hitters coming through that started out slow in the early part of the year," McAlister said. "That is what we expect out of some of our juniors and senior leaders."

Logan Morris got the win on the mound for the Tigers while Jordan Thomas started and threw five for Neelyville.

"Logan came out and this is the first time he has really been challenged in the last two or three starts, he has had two or three pretty dominant starts in a row," McAlister said. "I think he got a little bit tired but he battled and kept us in the game."

Thomas was relieved by Russom in the sixth inning.

"(Thomas) battled," Dobbins said. "Jordan doesn't throw very hard but normally he relies on location and today he left the ball up a lot. Today, his curveball wasn't very good, normally (it) is better than that."

Neelyville has had the lead late in games or been right close but miscues have made a huge impact.

"We are 7-6 right now and the whole reason we are 7-6 is because of unforced errors," Dobbins said. "We keep shooting ourselves in the foot in big situations."