Decatur Routs Neighborhood Rival Avondale 14-0

In a game of neighborhood foes, was anything but neighborly, defeating Avondale 14-0 in a five-inning mercy-rule game.

With the win, Decatur improves to 10-4 and 5-3 in Region 6-AA. Avondale drops to 3-10 and 1-7 in league play.

The rout began in the first inning as Bulldog star centerfielder Trumon Jefferson pulled a lead-off home run down the right-field line. Jefferson finished the game going 2-for-3 with four runs scored.

Decatur continued to put a dent on the scoreboard and led 7-0 heading into the fifth inning. In the final frame, the Bulldogs added seven additional runs to clinch the victory.

Shortstop Ross Whatley also had an impressive night at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, three runs scored and two stolen bases. Outfielder James Burrell went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. 

Bulldog junior starting pitcher Brett Polston was solid on the mound, giving up one hit with four strike outs and a walk before turning it over to Brett Riley in mop-up duty.

“I can’t say enough about him [Polston] and how he’s battled and competed on the mound this year,” said Decatur head coach Rusty Bennett. “He’s really been our mainstay and go-to guy on the mound on big games.”

Avondale threatened to get on the board in the fourth inning when Riley walked Immanuel Malone. Malone immediately swiped second base and then Deangelo Shivers moved him to third with a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt. But a shallow fly out to center and a grounder to second ended the inning with Decatur’s shutout intact.

The Bulldogs enter their spring break having won three in a row, all of which by mercy rule. While the students are off from school, the team will play two non-region games, at Strong Rock Christian on Thursday, April 8 at 7 p.m. and at Druid Hills on Friday, April 9 at 12 noon. When classes resume the following week, the Bulldogs play host to first-place squad Buford on Monday, April 11. Decatur is currently fifth in the Region 6-AA standings, one spot away from a playoff berth.

“We’ve got to come back after spring break and fine-tune some things before Buford comes in here on April 11. But we’ve played tremendous baseball and we’ve played together. This is the best chemistry team that we’ve had in four years since I’ve been here,” said Bennett.

Avondale is off during spring break and returns to action for a home game versus Cross Keys on Monday, April 11.