Sports

Commodores Stay Alive with Comeback Win

Posted: 6:31 PM Apr 22, 2012
Reporter: Scott Rossman

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Panama City, FL--Talk about some pressure packed baseball and a team answering a "late bell" so to speak. Gulf Coast rallied from a 4 run deficit and beat Pensacola 8-4 Sunday, keeping their state playoff hopes alive.

The Commodores began the day knowing they have to win out in their final three, and were hoping to get a win from TCC over Northwest Florida Sunday day to force a tie for the runner up spot in the conference

Things did not begin well for Gulf Coast at Frazier Field. Ace David Trexler gave up 2 runs in the third, and two more runs in the 4th. Each time Pensacola scoring one run on an infield out. And each time getting an rbi hit to drive home the other.

Gulf Coast meanwhile stranding runners all over the place early on, in fact they get ten baserunners through the first five, but nobody crosses the plate.

In the bottom of the 6th the Commodores finally get some big hits. Four singles plate the first run, Tanner Bell with the first rbi with a soft single to center. That made it 4-1.

Then the big blow comes off the bat of Bay alum Kevin Husum, who after just missing a double down the line in right, that fell just foul,
lined shot to left. The Pirates left fielder gave it an ill advised dive as the ball went by him, allowing all three baserunners to score and Gulf Coast had tied it at 4.

Dylan Brown and Mike Wells each added rbi singles in that rally. Gulf
¶Coast adds two after that while Brad Griffis pitches some shutdown relief. The Commodores go on to get the win 8-4 and they then turned their attention to Niceville.

They liked the report they got from the Northwest Florida game. The Raiders trailed the entire way in that one, with Tallahassee eventually blowing open a close game late, the Eagles getting a 13-4 win.

So Northwest ends conference play 12-8. Gulf Coast is 10-8 with two to play. If the Commodores beat TCC in Tallahassee Friday, and then at home Saturday, they will be tied with the Raiders and that will force a one game playoff. If Gulf Coast loses either of those last two, Northwest Florida will finish second and get the conference's runner up state playoff berth.

Chipola has already clinched the conference title, the 8th in 16 years under head coach Jeff Johnson.