NAVARRE — There were no seventh-inning rallies for Crestview High School’s baseball team Thursday in the District 1-7A championship against Navarre.
The sad truth for the Bulldogs is there was no seventh inning. The Raiders needed just six innings to dispose of Crestview 10-0. The game was called after six innings on the 10-run mercy rule.
Crestview-Navarre baseball photos>>>
For three innings Crestview starting pitcher Jeremy Willis kept the Raiders off balance. Willis was masterful in holding Navarre hitless and allowing just one walk to Octavian Moyer. Even the walk wasn’t a problem as Crestview catcher threw Moyer out trying to steal second base.
As good as the first three innings were for the Bulldogs the fourth, fifth and sixth innings were equally bad.
“It wasn’t good,” Bulldog Coach Tim Gillis said. “But that’s baseball and sometimes it happens that way. We couldn’t get out of an inning and then it kind of snowballed on us.
“Then they got on us. I give a lot of credit to Coach (Scott) Murphy and Navarre. They do things the right way and they do a great job.”
Willis didn’t make it out of the fourth inning. Willis was done for the night walking leadoff batter Michael Sandle and giving up back-to-back doubles to Tyler Rebber and Cyrus Grimes. Sandle scored on the Rebber double and Rebber scored on Grimes’ hit.
Willis was replaced by Jordan Chamberlain. Chamberlain gave up a double to Moyer that scored Grimes. He then retired the next three batters to get out of the inning.
Things continued to go Navarre’s way in the fifth inning when the Raiders sent eight men to the plate and scored three more runs.
Alik Whited took over for Chamberlain with one out in the fifth after a Michael Carter triple. Navarre added three more runs in the fifth and four in the sixth. Ryan Weekley finished up the rough outing for the Bulldogs.
While the Raiders (20-6) were busy hammering the Bulldog pitching for 11 hits in the last three innings Crestview struggled against Rebber.
The Bulldogs (13-13) managed just two hits and a walk against Rebber. Crestview’s biggest threat came in the first inning when Zach Degraaf walked and Corey Armstrong singled moving Degraaf to second base.
Degraaf singled in the sixth and took second on a wild pitch. He was the only Bulldog to make it into scoring position.
Crestview opens the playoffs in Tallahassee against Chiles on Thursday.
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview falls to Navarre in district title game (PHOTOS, VIDEO)