Chatt-a-Hoots Sweep Weekend From Monsters With 12-4 Win

Columbus, GA - The Columbus Chatt-A-Hoots picked up a big 12-4 win over the Choccolocco Monsters on Saturday, July 9th at Golden Park in Columbus, GA. Columbus improved to 10-8 on the season, while Choccolocco fell to 6-13.

Choccolocco took the early lead in the top of the 2nd as Jelani Howard came around to score. Howard singled to reach, and then made his way to 3rd on a single from William Keley. Dom Scavone then got the RBI on a 3rd straight single from the Monsters that brought in Howard to make it a 1-0 Choccolocco lead.

The Hoots then exploded for 6 runs in the bottom of the 2nd to take the lead for good. Jesse Donohoe led things off with a leadoff double. Conner O’Neal then walked and Ellis Yohn singled to load the bases. Britt Netterville then got a big 2-RBI double off the right field wall to score Donohoe and O’Neal to put Columbus ahead 2-1. After a Cooper Krause strikeout, Nico Senese then got in on the doubles action as he hit a 2-RBI to center field that got just over the glove of Kelley in center to score Yohn and Netterville to make it a 4-1 lead. After a walk and a fielder’s choice, Columbus had runners at the corners. Senese came around to score on a passed ball to make it 5-2. Simms Owens made his way around to score from 1st with a stolen base, a passed ball, and then a balk brought him home to make the Hoots lead 6-1. Cam Gray would then get a single, but was caught stealing.

The Monsters chipped away at the lead with a single run in both the 3rd and the 4th. They scored in the 3rd as Sean Smith doubled, was driven to 3rd on a single, and was then driven in to score on a sac-fly by Brant Deerman. Their run in the 4th came as William Kelley came around to score. He reached on an error, stole 2nd, and then scored on a RBI single by Scavone. Kelley’s run cut the lead to 6-.

Owens made a huge play in the field in the top of the 5th. Smith was on 3rd, and was attempting to score on a flyout to Owens. Owens however was able to throw him out at the plate for the 8-2 double play after the flyout to centerfield. 

Columbus would get insurance runs following that in the bottom of the 5th as they plated 3 runs with 2 outs to push the lead to 9-3. Owens got on base with a walk to get things started. He then made his way to 3rd on a Gray single. Owens then scored and Win Johns on a Monsters’ error. Walt McConnell then got his 1st hit as a Hoot as he drove in 2 with an RBI single to score Gray and Johns. 

Two more runs would come across in the home half of the 6th. Netterville and Krause reached on 2 errors to start the inning off. Owens then got the big 2-RBI single to help put the game away at 11-3. 

Both teams would swap runs in the 7th and 8th. Choccolocco scored a run in the 7th as Kelley singled, Smith walked, Josh Cooper was hit by a pitch, and then Kelley scored on a passed ball to trim the lead to 11-4.

Columbus would get the run back in the bottom of the 8th as Gavin Blair hit as a pitcher and singled, Senese and Ross reached on errors. The 2nd error brought Blair home to score to push the lead to the final score of 12-4.  

Nick Morgan got the win on the mound as he went 5 innings pitched, allowing 3 earned runs. He also struck out 3 while giving up 7 hits. 

The Hoots pen was also good in relief. The quartet of Javi Marrero, Ryan Middleton, Logan Seehafer, and Brad Grasser combined for 4 innings with just 1 run allowed. They also combined for 6 strikeouts and allowed just 1 hit. 

Cam Gray had the only multi-hit game for the Hoots as he went 2/3 with a run scored and a walk. Simms Owens and Britt Netterville also had strong games. Owens went 1/4 with 2 RBI, 2 runs scored, and a walk. He also made the throw to home for the double play. Netterville also went 1/4 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. 

Columbus will be back in action in midweek action against the Gwinnett Astros on Monday, July 11th and Wednesday, July 13th.