AMERICUS – With the Sumter County Parks and Recreation Department (SCPRD) youth baseball regular season nearing its end, the 12u Braves team wanted to finish strong before the end-of-season tournament begins on Monday, May 13. In the first game of a doubleheader on Tuesday, May 7, the Braves tied the Rangers 7-7. In Game 2 against the Yankees, Braves starting pitcher Caden Lane struck out seven batters to lead his team to a 7-4 victory at the SCPRD baseball complex.

“It was a good mound performance by Caden Lane,” 12u Braves head coach Blake Dukes said. “He threw well, and then, we just played baseball.”

The Braves scored three runs in the first inning. Kinney Kinnebrew led off the inning with a walk, followed by a single by Maddox Dukes. This led to three runs being scored by the Braves. The Yankees responded with two runs in their half of the first inning. Seth Martin and Chandler Highnote both singled. This led to two runs being scored by the Yankees.

The Braves scored four more runs in the third inning to secure the victory. Lane contributed an RBI single and scored a run. Brandon Edwards, DeMarion Flint and Justin Leverette each drove in an RBI by drawing a walk.

The Braves finished the regular season with a record of 3-5-1. They, along with the rest of the 12u teams, will now prepare for the end-of-season tournament, which begins on Monday, May 13.