Trio keeps Train rolling

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by Jared Gravette
Anniston Star Sports Writer 15 hrs ago | 47 views | 0 | 1 | | JACKSONVILLE — The trio of Jeremy Dorrance, Judd Edwards and Jono Waugh set the tone for the East Alabama offense Thursday night, as the Big Train steamrolled its way to a 7-5 victory over the Cobb Premier Stars. "We started slow this summer with the bats, but we have gotten on a roll a little bit," Big Train head coach Roberto Martinez said. "We are swinging the bats pretty good of late." East Alabama relied heavily on Dorrance at the top of the lineup, but it was Edwards that got the Big Train on the board in the first inning, legging out an infield single and quickly stealing second base. Waugh followed with a single and also swiped second, putting both runners in scoring position for the Big Train's most dangerous hitter Ryan McCrory.
McCrory grounded out, but it was enough to score Edwards and put the Big Train up 1-0. The trio struck again in the third and fifth innings. With one out in the third, Dorrance doubled and later came around to score on a Waugh double. McCrory then drove in the Oxford product from second with a bloop single that put the Big Train up 3-0. In the fifth, Dorrance doubled once again, giving McCrory a chance to knock in his third run of the game. The Big Train's clean-up hitter did just that, with a single to score Dorrance from third. "All three guys (Dorrance, Edwards and Waugh) had a good approach. That's why I have them at the top of the lineup. All three can run. We like to steal a lot and put pressure on the other team, and they have been successful doing that," Martinez said.
It was another Oxford product that did the majority of the damage in the fifth inning. After Andrew Brooke walked, Saxson Butler crushed a Malcolm Gay pitch off the right field wall, driving in both runners and putting the game out of reach.
The Big Train has won six games in a row and will play every day this weekend at Alexandria High. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. today.