Centennial Defeats Alpharetta in Extra Innings

The Alpharetta Raiders baseball team hosted the Centennial Knights in a Region 6AAAAA contest on Tuesday. The outcome of the game was not at all certain until the final out of the first extra inning of play. 

Centennial jumped out to an early 2-1 lead in the first inning when, following shortstop Jay Baum's double, Knight's first baseman Patrick Sammons hit a two run homer to left field. Alpharetta came back in the bottom of the first inning, scoring one run on a passed ball.

Alpharetta scored again in the bottom of the second inning tying the game, 2-2. Things remained that way until the top of the fifth inning when Centennial's Andrew Short was driven in by left fielder Dustin Beggs' single to center, giving Centennial a 3-2 lead over the Raiders.

The Knights carried their one run lead through their half of the seventh inning.

Down to their last out in the bottom of the seventh inning, Alpharetta needed something to go their way. It began when Raider shortstop Harrison Hunter walked. Second baseman Tyler Agard singled to right field and Hunter advanced to third base on a throwing error. Alpharetta's center fielder Kenneth Reynolds followed with another single, driving in Hunter from third to tie the game at 3-3 and push it into extra innings.

In the top of the eighth inning, with two outs and a 3-2 count, Centennial first baseman Sean Muller hit a hot grounder down the third base line. He then beat out the throw to first which allowed designated hitter Wright McCraney to score from third base, giving the Knights a one run lead.

When Alpharetta was unable to score in the bottom of the eighth, Centennial picked up the win, 4-3.