Atlanta Reds Win 18+ Championship in 27th Annual Billy Townsend Memorial Day Weekend Tournament

Submitted by Don Pike, Atlanta MSBL League president

The 27th Annual Billy Townsend Memorial Day Weekend Tournament got off to a rough start after a storm rolled through late Friday evening. If it wasn`t for several high school baseball coaches, local teams and the tourney committee working fields before daylight Saturday morning we would`ve been playing into Monday evening. I want to thank high school coaches Desmond Stegal, Michael Fraker, and John Farmer for their support. Without their support and hard work, we wouldn`t have been able to pull it off.

In the 18+ Division the Atlanta Reds captured their sixth tourney win. On the way to the championship the Reds posted a 4-0 record. The teams pitching was stellar posting a 1.04 ERA with 54 strikeouts against only seven walks. The offense was just as impressive batting .311 with home runs from eight different hitters.

In the championship game the Red`s squared off once again with the Tainos. Starter Bobby Eveld, who caught all weekend, scattered four hits over eight innings allowing just two runs over those innings while striking out 13. Jarrett Brown closed out the ninth by striking out the side.

Tommy Bottichio batted .461, with one home run and three RBI, and his defense was just as impressive. Tommy suffered what would end up being a season-ending injury on Sunday evening, but he played on Monday despite pain.