By By BRUCE HIXON Sports Editor
The definition of a team victory is a game where everybody contributes.
With that in mind, the Brewton Babe Ruth 14-year-old all-stars used a team effort to blow away Atmore 19-7 in six innings at Thursday's District 7 Tournament played at Excel.
All nine spots in the Brewton lineup contributed to the victory in one form or another.
The three biggest contributors to Brewton's 13-hit attack were Will Waters, Aaron Nelson and Jake Smith. Waters had three RBI doubles, Nelson drove in three runs through a pair of singles and a double, while Smith had two RBI singles and three total hits.
"I thought going into the district tournament hitting would be one of our strengths. I feel all 14 of our players are capable hitters," Brewton coach John Nelson said.
Other than a second inning hiccup where Atmore scored six of its seven runs and had five of its six hits, Brewton pitcher James Hamric held his opponent in check.
"I think the biggest adjustment James made after that second inning was a mental one. We told him to just settle down and pitch," Nelson said.
Waters had the first of his RBI doubles and Nelson had a two-run single in the top of the first inning when Brewton jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
Atmore got to Hamric in the second inning when five hits and two walks added up to six runs and a 6-3 lead. The key blow was a single by Travis Vickery, who drove in three runs with the hit and the aid of an outfield error.
The momentum of the game swung right back to Brewton in the top of the third inning. After Hamric walked and moved up a base on a wild pickoff throw, an RBI double by Waters, an RBI single by Smith and an RBI double by Bobby Freeman pulled Brewton even at 6-6.
Brewton took the lead for good when Chris Griffin drilled an RBI single. Griffin later scored on a wild pitch that put Bretwon up 8-6.
Atmore got one of those runs back in the bottom of the fourth inning and pulled within 8-7, but Brewton responded with three runs in the top of the fifth that knocked its lead up to 11-7.
A double by Nelson, two Atmore errors, a successful double steal of second and home by Derek Busby and Hamric and an RBI fielder's choice by James Freeman led to the runs.
Brewton finished things off on the 10-run rule when it erupted for nine runs in the sixth inning. Hamric and Waters both had RBI doubles, while Nelson and Smith had RBI singles. Atmore committed four of its eight errors in the game in that inning, all by the shortstop.
The win sent Brewton into Saturday's semifinal round. If Brewton won that game, it will play for the championship Monday at 5:30 p.m. A loss would sent it to today's elimination game at 2 p.m.
At Excel
Brewton 305 039 – 19 13 3
Atmore 060 100 – 7 6 8