Published on Thursday, August 7, 2008

Lumberton Advances to Final Four!

Evan Odum's pitching propels Lumberton into World Series Final Four

Lumberton defeats Alabama team 9-3

(photos & article courtesy of Daniel Kenney)

(LaGrange, Georgia) - On Wednesday night, North Carolina (Lumberton) relied on Gage Hardin and Daniel Oxendine’s pitching in their 7-2 win over Tennessee. On Thursday night against Alabama (Auburn), it was Evan Odom and Austin Swiderski’s turn as the tandem helped North Carolina shut down Alabama 9-3 and become only one of four teams remaining in the 53rd Annual Dixie Youth World Series in LaGrange, GA. No North Carolina team has ever won the AAA (9-10 year-olds) Dixie Youth World Series championship. North Carolina has won the Majors World Series (11-12 year-olds) twice. Columbus County won in 1993 and Hope Mills won in 2006. The four teams remaining in this year's AAA championship are Troup County GA, Mississippi (McComb), Louisiana (Oberlin), and North Carolina (Lumberton).

Evan Odom started the game and got the win by throwing 4 & 1/3 innings. Odom gave up just 5 hits and struck out 2 batters. Austin Swiderski came in with one out in the 5th inning with Alabama runners on second and third base. At that point, North Carolina was holding a 6-1 lead. Alabama got two hits off Swiderski, from the first two batters he faced, to cut the margin to 6-3. Swiderski then got Tyus Flakes to hit into a fielder's choice and retired Austin Triplett on a ground ball to shortstop.

North Carolina scored three more runs in the bottom of the 5th inning. Raleigh Forrest led off the inning with a walk. Austin Swiderski followed with a single. With one out, Hunter Barfield reached base on a fielder’s choice to put runners on first and third base. After Barfield stole second base, he and Forrest both scored on passed balls. North Carolina's 9th run came after J.J. Oxendine walked and stole second base. He was driven home by Alec Brewington.

With the win, North Carolina advances to the Final Four of the 53rd Annual Dixie Youth World Series. North Carolina will play either Troup County, GA (host team) or Mississippi (McComb). The winner will advance to the final day of play to determine the Dixie Youth World Series Champion. That game can be seen on a live webcast beginning at 7:30pm at:

http://www.youthsportslive.com/live.aspx

Leading Hitters for Lumberton:
Alec Brewington was 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs;
Gage Hardin was 1 for 3;
Evan Odom was 1 for 3;
Raleigh Forrest was 1 for 2;
Austin Swiderski was 2 for 3 with an RBI;
Hunter Barfield was 1 for 2 with 2 RBIs; and
Jamal Cromartie was 0 for 0 with 1 RBI.