By By BRUCE HIXON-Sports Editor
They tormented them as nine and 10-year-olds, as 11 and 12-year-olds, and last year as 13-year-olds.
The long wait for revenge for the Brewton Babe Ruth 14-year-old all-stars against Covington County ended Friday when Brewton rallied for a 3-1 win in the opening round of Area Tournament action at L.B. Wallace College in Andalusia.
Brewton hurler John Mathieu overcame one early mistake to throw a complete game three-hitter with nine strikeouts.
On Mathieu's second pitch in the bottom of the first inning, Covington County's Shane Turner ripped a shot into the right-centerfield gap that glanced off the glove of Brewton centerfielder Houston Simmons. Turner already had a triple on the play, but an errant throw on the relay back in allowed him to score.
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Covington County Cale Nolen had a perfect game going until the top of the fourth inning when Brewton catcher Jacob Cannon tripled over the rightfielder. Cannon then scored on a wild pitch to tie the game.
Brewton took the lead in the top of the sixth inning. Grant DeFrancisco walked and Mathieu followed with a single. Corey Williams, who was struck in the arm his previous at bat, bounced back with a two-run double into centerfield that put Brewton on top to stay.
Brewton played Opp in Saturday's championship semifinal round. The winner goes to today's championship round at 3 p.m. The loser had to play Covington County in Saturday night's elimination round.
At Andalusia
Brewton 000 102 0 – 3 4 1
Covington Co. 100 000 0 – 1 3 1