Walton Streaks Out Four Straight Wins To Turn Season Around

The Braves started their win streak with a 6-0 shutout over the Rutherford Rams on April 5th. *Photo by Jenny Clark.

The Walton Braves have been a streaky team this season. But while that meant extended struggles early on in the year, they have recently reversed their fortunes with their longest winning streak of the season. Walton has won its last four contests, bringing its record back to even at 9-9 on the season.

This has turned things around after a challenging start in which the club lost its first four games, and also endured another three-game skid that dropped the Braves to 5-9. Since then they have played their best baseball of the season.

Walton earned a 6-0 shutout over the Rutherford Rams on April 5th to end the bad streak and start the good one. They followed that up with a decisive win over the Bay Tornadoes, before battling for a walk-off win over the Crestview Bulldogs, and then a comeback win in the rematch with Bay.

Junior infielder Landon Rhodes. *Photo by Jenny Clark.

The Braves took control right away in the win over Rutherford, scoring the only run they ultimately needed in the top of the first inning. Grady Campbell led off with a double to right field and scored on an RBI single from Garrison Head for the winning run.

Starter Colton Nelson made that small margin hold up, as he delivered five shutout innings to earn the win. Nelson allowed just one hit but walked five, and he struck out seven.

Walton added some insurance with another run in the fourth, before some late offense helped push the game out of reach. Casen Sullivan singled and then scored on an RBI double from Jackson Clemmons in the fourth, and he later drove in Garrison Head with an RBI single in the seventh.

Sullivan went 3-for-4 on the day.

Mason Clark breaks for home… *Photo by Jenny Clark.

… and Mason Clark steals home! *Photo by Jenny Clark.

Steele Marshall got things going in the sixth with a lead-off double to center, and the bases quickly filled up behind him as Nelson was walked and David Pickard was hit by a pitch. Campbell delivered again with a two-RBI single to left.

Mason Clark then capped the exciting win by successfully swiping home in the seventh. Clark singled with one out and Garrison Head followed with a double that put them both in scoring position, as Marshall was then intentionally walked to load the bases and set up a force-out at any base for the defense. But on a 2-0 count Clark seized his moment and swiped home plate.

That momentum continued on. The offense stayed hot in clubbing 11 hits in a 14-9 win over Bay, and the magic only grew stronger after the Braves rallied for a walk-off, 6-5 win over Crestview when Marshall drove in Landon Rhodes in the bottom of the seventh. Bay then seemed to have its revenge in holding a slim lead most of the way, before Campbell and Rhodes delivered consecutive RBI hits to rally the team to a 2-1 win.

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