Crestview chops down Choctaw

CRESTVIEW – There were smiles all around for the Crestview baseball team Friday night as the Bulldogs beat county rival Choctawhatchee 13-3 in their home opener.

The game was called in the sixth inning because of the 10-run rule.

“I was really proud of them (the Bulldog players),” Crestview coach Tim Gillis said. “They came out and played with a lot of intensity.

“It’s a great group of kids. They have meshed well together and they have good chemistry. The kids came out and played well and played hard and kept the pressure on them."

Crestview (1-1) wasted no time in getting the bats started.

Freshman shortstop Dakota Dean, batting in the leadoff spot, lined the first pitch he saw from Miguel Paulino into right field for a single.

Kameron Miller was next and lined the next Paulino pitch into left to drive in Dean.

With that the Bulldogs were off and running as they pounded out 16 hits to go along with six walks and two Indian errors.

Despite touching Paulino for four hits in the first inning the Bulldogs only scored one run as they cost themselves a possible big inning with some poor base running.

The Indians (0-2) took their only lead of the game in the second inning as Brian Moore and Freddy Carter scored a pair of unearned runs. Zach Morgan did pick up a RBI driving in Carter on a fielder’s choice.

Crestview responded with three runs in the home half of the second and from that point on never looked back as they scored in every inning.

The Bulldogs scored two runs in the third, one in the fourth, three in the fifth and three in the sixth.

Two of the runs in the fifth came as Nick Brown reached safely on passed ball after striking out with the bases loaded with two out. As Brown sprinted for first, Tristan Linville scored from third and Dean came around all the way from second for his third run of the night.

Choctaw did manage a run in the fifth when the Indians loaded the bases as Tanner Black reached on an error and Paulino and Moore singled.

Luke Clark plated Black with a sacrifice fly for the first out of the inning, but the Indians were unable to take further advantage of the situation.

The Bulldogs got solid pitching from the duo of Gabe Gunter and Miller. Gunter started and worked three innings before giving way to Miller in the fourth. Neither pitcher allowed an earned run.

Gunter gave up two hits and struck out four Choctaw batters. Miller also fanned four and gave up four hits.

Miller and Trevor Carnahan led the Bulldogs with three hits each. Dean had two hits and scored three runs. Tyler Henderson also had two hits and scored twice.

Paulino and Moore each had two hits for the Indians.

Choctaw 020 010 – 3 6 2

Crestview 132 133 –13 16 3

W-Kameron Miller, L-Miguel Paulino