St. James catcher Taylor Poe tags out a Marbury base runner in the Trojans’ win on Wednesday at Riverwalk Stadium. (Staff Photo)

Staff Report
(March 4, 2010)

Despite six errors, the St. James Trojans celebrated a victory over Marbury on the opening day of the Jason Armstrong Memorial Baseball Classic at Riverwalk Stadium on Wednesday.

The Trojans earned a 7-5 win in 11 innings, coming from behind early but then giving up the lead in the bottom of the seventh on an unearned run.

“It was a hard-fought game, one that I am happy we won,” St. James coach Keith Lucky said. “But I don’t know what to say about it, otherwise. With a team is as young as we are, you can expect games like this.”

Both teams were guilty of allowing run-scoring errors although the Trojans were able to put together three hits in the top of the fifth inning to take a 4-3 lead. Joe Goodson’s bloop single scored Will Olsey to give St. James the advantage.

But Marbury would score an unearned run in the seventh to tie the game and send it to extra innings.

“We are dealing with some of the same things (youth),” Marbury coach Lymon Woodfin said. “We kept fighting back and that’s the way this team plays.”

The Bulldogs got a solid performance on the mound from freshman Rocky Milton, who pitched eight innings. He gave up just two earned runs.

“He plays like a 19-20 year old,” Woodfin said. “He doesn’t let errors get to him. He just goes out and throws strikes.”

Wilson Adams matched the work of Milton, pitching seven innings and giving up just two hits for St. James. He struck out seven but did not get the decision.

That went to David Hubbard who was the beneficiary of the comeback win.

“Two young guys who really did a good job,” Lucky said of Adams, a freshman and Hubbard, who is a sophomore.

“I carry 11 players on my roster and so far we have pitched nine of those 11. You can see the talent in these guys but you see the youth too and that was evident in how this game turned out.”

Goodson had two hits to lead St. James, which improved to 4-4.  The Trojans will face Trinity on Thursday at 3:30 at Riverwalk.

Marbury dropped to 2-4 and will face Catholic on Thursday at 4:30 at Paterson Field.

Montgomery Academy comes from behind to beat Catholic

In another extra-inning affair, the Montgomery Academy Eagles came back from a two-run deficit to beat Montgomery Catholic, 3-2, in eight innings in the nightcap at Riverwalk Stadium.

Dustin Weil singled in Will Davis in the eighth for the game winner.

Jackson Muller was the winning pitcher for the Eagles (4-4).

Jeff Clark had two hits for Catholic (1-3).

MA plays Alabama Christian on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Paterson Field.