Experience pays off in Tropics' opening game rally in Alabama tournament

Southeast Tropics player Aaron Dunlap (center) watches his team hit in a recent game at Kelly High School. Dunlap had two hits, including the key one in the final inning on Thursday, in a 2-2 tie to open the Alabama Wood Bat Tournament in Tuscaloosa.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

Veteran Southeast Tropics manager Dustin Schwartz felt great about his summer baseball squad entering this season not only because of its talent level after winning the 2023 Babe Ruth World Series last August but because of its experience, as well.

Both showed up on Thursday, as the Tropics fought back in the final moments of its game against the Alabama Outlaws 18U team in the opening game of the Alabama Wood Bat Tournament in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

With two outs and down to its final strike in the seventh inning, the Tropics got singles from Portageville High School players Owen Roberts and Aaron Dunlap to tie the game at two runs apiece before the time limit for the game expired.

“A lot of this is chemistry,” Schwartz said of his team’s success. “We’ve got so many guys from last year, and the new guys who we brought in, they are really clicking for the team. They are buying in.

“We are really good. We have the talent (and) now we have to go out and do something with it.”

The Tropics (14-4-1) trailed 2-1 entering the inning before the Outlaws got a couple of outs.

Former Jackson High player Dylan Hayman connected for a single before Roberts got a hit as a pinch-hitter and moved Hayman up a base.

Dunlap then drove a pitch into center field, which scored Hayman.

“Aaron Dunlap at the top of the lineup is always great,” Schwartz said.

Dunlap had a pair of hits to go with his one run scored and an RBI while his former Portageville teammate, Trey Benthal, had two hits, as well, including a double.

Former Oran High pitcher Kolten Payne was strong in his start on the mound, as he threw four innings and allowed just two hits, one earned run, one walk, and struck out four.

Recent Kelly High graduate Dalton Forck closed the final three innings and didn’t allow a hit or an earned run. He walked three and struck out four.

“Kolten threw great,” Schwartz said, “and Dalton came in and slammed the door and kept us in the game.”

Another former Portageville player, Mason Adams, had a walk in the game while Waylon Hale chipped in an RBI, and Forck drew a walk off an Outlaw pitcher who has signed to play at NCAA Division II program Alabama Huntsville.

“That’s what we came down here for,” Schwartz said, “was to play really good teams. With us having a six-hour drive (in the morning) and to come out here and compete, that was the most we could ask.”