Tropics have flair for dramatic in continued rallying Ws

Veteran Southeast Tropics manager Dustin Schwartz speaks to his team following a 4-3 win in the first game of a doubleheader on Tuesday at Kelly High School in Benton.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

BENTON - Just a note to fans of the Southeast Tropics, don’t leave their games early, because more than likely you’ll miss out on a rallying win by the highly successful team.

The Tropics swept their rival, the Aycorp Media Charleston Fighting Squirrels, on Tuesday at Kelly High School in Benton 4-3 and 5-4, and in both victories, the Tropics (17-4-1) came from behind to secure their third and fourth victories, respectively, over the Squirrels (10-10).

“Our guys don’t quit,” veteran Southeast Tropics manager Dustin Schwartz said. “We can kind of wait a little late sometimes to get going,

“They are never out of a game.”

In a recent 14-12 tournament victory over the Missouri Marlins 17U squad in the Big Nuts Classic at Hillhouse Park in Charleston, the Tropics scored six runs in their final at-bat to win.

Last week, the team traveled to Tuscaloosa, Ala. for the Alabama Wood Bat Tournament, and secured a 2-2 tie (the game was called due to time limits) with the Alabama Outlaws 18U team with a run in their final inning.

On Tuesday, the Tropics scored twice in the bottom of the sixth inning to win the first game and then overcame deficits of 1-0, 3-2, and 4-3 to win the second game of the doubleheader in five innings.

“We play hard,” Schwartz continued. “That is all that I ask for from them. I ask them to give me 100 percent every time that we step out on the field, and they do that for me.”

The Tropics only managed four hits off Squirrel pitcher Lawson Graff and had to overcome three defensive miscues, a rarity for Schwartz’s group, but they still managed to prevail.

Trailing 4-3 in the third inning, former Oran High standout Kolten Payne led off the inning with a walk before advancing to third base on a single into center field by former Portageville High standout Mason Adams.

Adams and Payne each stole a base, which scored Payne and tied the game at four, which was followed by Three Rivers College sophomore Trey Benthal reaching on a Squirrel error, which also moved Adams to third base.

For the second time in the inning, the Tropics ran a runner home, this time Adams, and this time for the eventual game-winning run.

Payne keyed the offense with one hit, two runs scored, one RBI, and one walk while Aaron Dunlap (one run), Adams (one hit, one run), Dalton Forck (one run, one walk), Luke Umfleet (one hit), Brenden Campbell (one hit), and Beau-Hunter Warren (one RBI) also contributed.

Dunlap and Umfleet were each hit by pitches while Dunlap, Payne, and Adams each stole two bases apiece.

Former Portageville High pitcher Thomas Frakes threw 3 2/3 innings in the start while allowing five hits, two earned runs, walking three, and striking out two.

Warren closed the final 1 1/3 innings and gave up just one hit, no runs or walks.

Brady Smith led the Squirrel offense with a couple of hits and a run scored while Will Green (one double, one run, one walk), Owen Osborne (two hits), Brady Swims (one hit, one walk), Chase Worthy (one RBI), Wyatt Friley (one run, one RBI, one walk), and Jack Evans (one run) were also productive.

Graff threw five innings and allowed four hits, and four earned runs while walking two and striking out four.

The teams will compete in the Missouri Babe Ruth State Tournament on July 11-15 at Hillhouse Park in Charleston.