Will Nelson Powers DeSoto County To Victory

DeSoto County pinch-runner Kolby Scott rounds third on his way home.

The Desoto County Bulldogs came back from an early deficit to defeat the Mariner Tritons 4-2 on Monday night. The Bulldogs (2-6) ended a two-game skid while picking up their first road win of the season.

“Will Nelson’s second at bat was a spark for the team,” said DeSoto Manager Nick Loughren.

The Bulldogs had a very momentous third inning to take control. Number nine batter Mikey Daniels had a hard hit single to get the inning started for DeSoto County. He then put himself in scoring position by stealing second base. Leadoff batter Will Nelson then worked his way into a full count, before tying the game by hitting a line drive home run over the left-center field fence that put things at a 2-2 tie.

“I was trying to see a lot of pitches and make him him work,” Will Nelson said. “I got flat and on it and it just carried out of the ball park.”

Desoto took the lead in the fifth inning. Nelson was rewarded first base after being hit by a pitch and was then able to steal second base standing up, giving the Bulldogs another opportunity to score. Luke Womack then hit a deep fly ball that would have bounced off the center field fence if Mariner’s center fielder Mason Eicher hadn’t make a spectacular catch against the fence. Nelson was able to advance to third on the play and Levi Osceula then collected his first RBI of the game with a hard-hit ground ball up the middle.

DeSoto County added a valuable insurance run in the sixth.

Early on all the momentum was with the home team. The Mariner’s hard-throwing, left-handed starter Raymond Williamson was able to get out of the top of the first inning without giving up a single hit. The Tritons (4-5) then came up to the plate with a very aggressive plan of attack.

Mariner first baseman Justin Waibel prepares to field a grounder.

Leadoff hitter Mason Eicher got the game started with a hard line-drive single hit the other way. Eicher then advanced to second on a pickoff attempt. He showed incredible instincts on the base paths by advancing to third and later scoring on a passed ball to give the Tritons the first lead of the game. Mariner scored one more run for a 2-0 lead after one inning of play.

After that rough first inning for Bulldogs starting pitcher Casey Davis, the sophomore calmed down and proceeded to work comfortably for the next four innings.

“My changeup helped me a lot,” Davis said. “Once I started throwing strikes I was in control of the game.”

Nelson moved from shortstop to pitcher in the fifth inning, where he continued to amaze with an electric fastball and a devastating curveball. Throughout three innings of work Nelson was able to collect five strikeouts without giving any hits.

“My arm felt good tonight,” Nelson said. “My fastball had some zip on it.”

The Mariner’s threatened to score in the bottom of the sixth inning when they were able to get baserunner Christain Velez on third with no outs.  But Davis then collected three strikeouts to eliminate the potential threat.

“We had too many strikeouts in key situations, when we needed to just put the ball in play,” said Mariner’s Manager Tom Woodley.

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