Dr. Pepper wins

After 15 straight losses in the Corbin Little League, Dr. Pepper beat State Farm 8-2 in the final game of the regular season. The two met in the first-round of the post-season tournament and Dr. Pepper pulled out a 11-10 win and advanced to the semifinals where they played undefeated TECO COAL last night.
Dr. Pepper (2-15) jumped on John Benjamin Chadwell in the top of the first inning for four runs. Chadwell struck out the first batter but walked Nick Howington. Howington stole second before his cousin, Brandon Howling blasted a base hit down the third base line, allowing Nick Howington to post the first run of the game.
Wayne Logan made it to first on a walk then both runners moved up a base on a passed ball. Brandon Howington crossed the plate after a passed ball and Logan went to third. Logan then scored on an infield error at the bat of David Edwards. Edwards scored on a Austin O’Neal base hit for a 4-0 lead.
The lead didn’t last long as Tucker Jones didn’t have his stuff and allowed the first two batters base hits. Kevin Goins hit a grounder up the middle and Chadwell followed with a bunt. Jones walked Jake Metzger and Zack Henson, who would later score. Goins, Chadwell and Metzger all scored on wild pitches while Henson scored on a hit by Matthew Kelly.
Jones settled down and got Cody McHargue on a pop out to the mound. He struck out Josh Wright and Jake Coppock and the teams went to the second tied at 4-4.
The State Farm defense didn’t allow a run in the top of the second and the offense went back into full steam in the home half of the inning.
Jones hit Hunter Hart with a pitch, Goins and Chadwell had back to back hits. Hart and Goins scored on Chadwell’s bunt and a couple of Dr. Pepper errors.
Chadwell stole second but was caught going to third for the first out of the inning. Metzger and Henson walked before Cody McHargue struck out. Metzger worked his way around the bases and scored on a wild pitch before Jones struck out Wright to get out of the inning. State Farm led 7-4 after two complete.
Chadwell lost control of the game in the top of the third and State Farm had to use three pitchers in the inning to get out of trouble.
He walked Logan and Edwards before Wright went to the mound for State Farm. Wright walked O’Neal and Joey Conger. Logan, Edwards and O’Neal all scored on passed balls to tie the game at 7-7.
A two-out base hit by Nick Howington Conger home for an 8-7 lead. Howington scored later in the inning to give Dr. Pepper a two-run margin.
Dr. Pepper extended its lead to four runs (11-7) in the top of the fifth when Jones got a two-out single. Nick and Brandon Howington followed with doubles. Jones and Nick Howington scored in the inning.
State Farm answered with a pair of runs in the home half of the fifth when Coppock led off with a single to centerfield off Nick Howington. He went to second on a Hart ground out then scored on an infield error. Goins hit a hard shot down the third base line. Goins stole second went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball as State Farm closed to within two runs.
Howington, impressive on the mound, struck out Chadwell and got Metzger to ground out.
Henson went to the mound for State Farm in the top of the sixth and held Dr. Pepper scoreless after striking out Logan and O’Neal. Edwards got a base hit but was caught off second.
State Farm rallied in the bottom of the inning. Henson nearly hit a home run on the first pitch but it was foul. He hit the fence on the next pitch and settled for a double. Henson went to third on a passed ball then scored on an infield error as Kelly followed with a hard hit to short. Kelly went to second on a wild pitch but was stranded at the base when Howington struck out McHargue and Wright. Coppock ended the game with a grounder back to the mound.
The championship game of the tournament will be played Thursday night. Dr. Pepper played TECO COAL Tuesday in one semifinal while Davis Salvage (8-8) took on Bank of Corbin (10-8). The winners are scheduled to meet at 6 p.m.