PHOTO: Cole Lyles slides into third in Tuesday night's 12-0 victory over the Geraldine Bulldogs to win the DeKalb County Baseball Championship! (Marla Jones | Southern Torch)

By Marla Jones, Sports Editor

SYLVANIA, Ala. — The Fyffe Red Devils (16-2) defeated the Geraldine Bulldogs (8-6), 12-0 to win the DeKalb County Baseball Tournament on Tuesday, March 27, 2018.  Fyffe defeated Collinsville 7-4, to earn their place in the final game. Geraldine defeated Crossville, 6-3 to claim their spot in the final showdown.

The ballgame was scoreless until Fyffe’s, Parker Godwin tripled to bring home Eli Benefield and Brant Rowell in the third.  Parker Godwin scored on a bunt made by Justin Stiefel. Ike Rowell singled and Seth Benefield and Justin Stiefel sailed across the home plate for the Red Devils.  The Red Devils continued their attack when Cole Lyles singled and Body Dalton and Rowell scored on error by Geraldine’s center fielder. At the bottom of the third, the Red Devils had the 8-0 lead over the Bulldogs.  

Brant Rowell singled at bat.  Seth Benfield came up to the bat and drove Rowell in.  A single by Justin Stiefel and a bunt by Brody Dalton, brought Benfield across the plate,  A balk by Geraldine’s freshman pitcher Brodie Stone, scored Stiefel. Cole Lyles singled and drove home Dalton to seal the Red Devil victory.

Senior Seth Benefield earned the win from the mound.  He pitched all five innings of the Championship game. He gave up four hits and struck out eight.  He walked one intentionally.

“We played with really good effort and energy both games.  I thought that all our pitchers threw it well and we played pretty clean in the field most of the day. We had some really quality at bats and timely hitting” said Fyffe Head Baseball Coach Brad Thomas.  “Both teams we played have really good teams and are well coached. I’m really proud of our team and especially our Seniors. We have came really close a couple of times and come up short. I’m proud for them to be able to finish.”