Marianna AAA Comes Up Short at District

By: Shelia Mader

After opening District 2 AAA All-Star Tournament play with a 13-3 loss to eventual champion Sneads, Marianna bounced back in impressive fashion before seeing its season come to an end one game later.

Facing an out-of-county opponent in an elimination game on June 9, Marianna erupted for 20 runs on 16 hits in a 20-0 victory. Teamon Leavins led the offensive outburst by going 3-for-3 with a home run, triple, three RBIs and two runs scored. John Henry Tillman also had a huge day at the plate, finishing 3-for-3 with three RBIs, while Landon Laramore went 2-for-3 with five RBIs and two runs scored. Amaris Curry, Jace Pridgen, Raylen Groomes, Connor Thomas, Brooks Barber and Jace Garney all contributed hits as Marianna piled up 19 RBIs in the three-inning win. On the mound, Wyatt Pickels struck out five batters over 1 2/3 scoreless innings, while Hudson Lyons added two strikeouts as Marianna limited its opponent to four hits.

Marianna's tournament run ended June 10 with an 11-4 loss to Liberty County. Liberty County built an early lead with two runs in the first inning and five more in the second before holding off a late Marianna rally. Hudson Lyons paced Marianna offensively, going 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored. Tillman added two hits and an RBI, while Pickels, Laramore and Teamon Leavins each collected a hit. Marianna finished with seven hits and scored three runs in the sixth inning but could not overcome the deficit. Curry turned in the team's strongest pitching performance of the game, allowing no runs and no hits over 2 1/3 innings of relief while striking out one.

Marianna's roster included Hudson Lyons, Wyatt Pickels, Landon Laramore, Amaris Curry, Brooks Barber, Jace Garney, Jace Pridgen, Raylen Groomes, John Henry Tillman, Teamon Leavins, Connor Thomas and Brody Signorelli.