Published: April 06, 2009 12:50 pm      

Verden wins county crown

MINCO – The second-ranked Verden Tigers made short work of the Grady County championship game at Minco Saturday, beating Ninnekah 12-2.

The Tigers jumped on Dallas Williams for four runs in the first inning, five in the second and three in third.

Pitcher and three-hole Dan Edwards and catcher and cleanup hitter Wade Crowder hit back-to-back home runs to spot Verden to a quick 4-0 lead in the top of the first.

Edwards went yard to left-center for three runs then Crowder pulled one over the left-field fence for a solo shot. Owl right fielder Jerren Berry later grabbed nine-hole John Mitchell’s hard line drive for the third out, leaving two stranded in scoring position to stop the bleeding.

Verden sent eight hitters up in the second. Crowder doubled off the wall in left center to drive in a run, Edwards walked and later scored on a bad pickoff throw then second baseman Craig Hannah went the opposite way with a three-run blast over the right-field wall for a 9-0 lead.

Mitchell started the third with a single and later scored on a wild pitch, Edwards drove in a run with a single and then scored on another hard double from Crowder, this one to the right-center field gap.

Edwards got the Owls in order in the first then shortstop Bobbby Zubiate was left stranded after leading off the second with a drop-in double. Ninnekah finally got on the board in the third.

Berry got hit by a pitch with one out then second baseman Tyler Sneed doubled to put runners on second and third. Verden conceded a run to get Corey Williams on a groundout to second then Sneed scored when shortstop Colton Henricks booted Dallas Williams’ grounder.

Edwards struck Zubiate looking to end the third then struck out the side in order in the Owl fourth for the win.

Williams went the distance for Ninnekah, allowing 12 runs on eight hits and two errors.Verden (11-3) drew a bye in the first round when Dibble had to forfeit at the last minute then beat Minco 5-3 in the semis. The Owls beat Rush Springs then upset twelfth-ranked Amber-Pocasset 8-1 in the other semifinal. Amber run-ruled Minco 11-1 in five for third place.