Colton Gatton homered and scored a run on a heads up base running play as the Taylorville Tornadoes picked up a huge Apollo Conference win on Thursday evening as they beat the Mt. Zion Braves 11-5 in Taylorville. Isaac Repscher took the mound for the Tornadoes and after getting two quick outs gave up a couple walks, but got Davis Venters to fly out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the first, the Tornadoes quickly went 1-2-3. In the top of the second, AJ Miller got a base hit for the Braves followed by a base hit from Landon Workman. A sacrifice fly from Keegan Durbin followed by a fielders choice from Creighton Weigler scored a run and Mt. Zion led 1-0 heading into the bottom of the first.
The Tornadoes quicly responded in the bottom of the second with a double from Kason Pembroke and a walk from Zaydyn Donaldson. A base hit from Drew Morgan led to Pembroke scoring, and a walk from Fallon Turner scored Nollen Polley who was running for Donaldson. Taylorville led at the end of 2 2-1.
The lead would be short lived, as the Braves would get a triple from KWeellen Bolhorst on a shot that would ricochet off the right field fence followed by a hit by pitch on Davis Venters. Landon Workman would get a huge base hit out to right field but would get tagged trying to extend the hit into a double but not before scoring two runs. The Braves would lead 3-2 going into the bottom of the 3rd.
Taylorville would have a huge bottom of the third, scoring six runs courtesy of a error by Connor Fox on a Maxx Grieme hit. Colton Gatton would homer scoring both of them. Kason Pembroke and Zaydn Donaldson would both get base hits, Fallon Turner would double, and Carter Hennings would get a base hit. Repscher would add a base hit as well and when the dust cleared, Taylorville led 8-3. They wouldn't give up the lead the rest of the day.
The Braves would add two more runs in the fourth courtesy of back to back doubles from Keegan Durbin and Creighton Weigler. Both would score on a base hit from Connor Fox. This would cut the lead to 8-5. Taylorville would add three more runs in the bottom of the fifth with a base hit from Carter Cappelin, Maxx Grieme and a double from Colton Gatton. Gatton would score on a bang bang play from a base hit from Drew Morgan that saw a ground ball that went up the middle and allowed Gatton to score just behind the throw in. The Tornadoes would head into the 7th with a 11-5 lead.
In the top of the 7th, with Carter Cappellin on the mound, Kellen Bollhorst struck out, Davis Venters got a base hit, and AJ Miller struck out looking. Landon Workman came up to the plate and hit a line drive base hit out to left center but a throw home from Fallon Turner nailed a sliding Venters to end the game with the tag being made at the plate giving the Taylorville Tornadoes the 11-5 win. Taylorville improves to 11-12 and 4-6 in conference. They will take on Williamsville on the 19th. Colton Gatton was named the Nicole Patrick Country Financial Player of the Game.
Gatton spoke with Taylorville broadcaster Leroy Kleimola a bit after the game about his home run and about picking up the Apollo Conference win on Thursday evening.
