Hoots Split Weekend With 3-2 Win Over Alpharetta

The Columbus Chatt-A-Hoots picked up a big bounceback win as they knocked off the Alpharetta Aviators 3-2 on Saturday, July 16. Columbus improved to 12-9 on the season, while the Aviators fell to 5-16. 

Columbus took the lead early with a run in the bottom of the 3rd. After a leadoff out, Nico Senese and Bryce Newman picked up back-to-back singles to get the rally started. Zane Ross then got the big RBI double to score Senese.

The Aviators would then tie the game up in the top of the 5th inning. JD Kaiser led off the inning with a single, and then advanced to 2nd on a Wild Pitch. He was then driven in by an RBI single from Trenton Jamison to even up the score at 1-1.

Alpharetta took the lead at 2-1 temporarily in the top of the 7th. Tyler Hare reached on a walk and advanced to 2nd on a passed ball. He then scored on an RBI single from Phillip Ard (even though Ard was thrown out trying to advance to 2nd on the play on an outfield assist from Simms Owens). 

The Hoots then tied the game right back up in the bottom of the 7th. Bradley Smith reached on a double down the left field line. He then came around to score on an error by Alpharetta center fielder Seth Jones. The ball was off the bat of Senese, who ended up on 2nd on the play.

Then came the game-winning run in the bottom of the 8th for the Hoots, and the hits came with 2 outs. Cam Gray ripped a double to right field to get things started. Ellis Yohn then chopped a ball to the shortstop that was overthrown to 1st which allowed Gray to score the go-ahead run to put the Hoots up the ultimately final 3-2.

Clay Weatherly had a fantastic start for the Hoots, even though he got a no-decision. He went 6 innings in the start, allowing just 1 earned run. He also struck out 6 batters, while allowing just 2 hits. He did walk 3 batters, but it didn’t haunt him too much. He left the game with the score tied 1-1. 

Trey Sanders got the win as he pitched both the 8th and 9th innings. He ended up with the aforementioned 2 innings pitched, with 3 strikeouts. He didn’t give up a hit, while walking a batter. 

Ellis Yohn had a nice day behind the play as well as he caught 2 runners stealing (in the 1st and 3rd innings). 

Simms Owens also had 2 outfield assists in the game. 

6 different Hoots had 1 hit apiece, with Zane Ross, Cam Gray, Bradley Smith, Jonathan Manibusan, Nico Senese, and Bryce Newman all picking up hits.

The Hoots will next be in action on Monday with a doubleheader against the Gwinnett Astros on the road.