Destin crushes ball for win over Richbourg

Harrison Freeman cracked out three doubles and a single to lead the Destin Marlins in a 21-10 win over the Richbourg Roadrunners Monday afternoon in middle school baseball action in Crestview.
The Marlins crushed the ball for a total of 18 hits, eight for extra bases. In addition to Freeman’s three doubles, Al Alford blasted a two-run homer and a double. Trey Marshall also had two doubles and a single, and Tyler Kinard doubled and singled.
In the first inning, Destin scored one run with Michael Haynes knocking a single and scoring on a double from Kinard.
Richbourg answered with one in the bottom half on two hits.
In the second inning, Destin blew the game open scoring 11 runs on eight hits. Marshall ripped a double for three RBIs, Cody Moore singled for two RBIs. Freeman connected for two doubles and an RBI. Drew Pfeiffer smacked two singles, each for an RBI. Haynes singled for an RBI, and Josh Little singled.
Richbourg came back with three runs in the bottom half on a home run shot from Cameron Miller for a 12-4 game.
In the top of the fourth, Freeman connected for his third double of the day and then scored when Alford smashed one over the center field fence for a 14-4 lead.
Richbourg kept fighting back and scored four in the bottom on hits from Tate Sweatt, Justin Rebholz and Roman Donofro.
In the fifth, Marshall led with a single and scored on a single by Little.
Destin picked up two more runs in the sixth. Pfeiffer was hit by a pitch and scored on a line-drive double down the third baseline by Alford. Alford scored on a double to left center by Marshall.
In the bottom of the sixth, Richbourg scored one run on a triple from Derrick Lovelace.
In the last inning, Destin put four more runs on the board. Griff Anderson walked and Freeman singled. Pfeiffer reached on an error and Anderson scored. Up next, Alford blasted one that tipped the center fielder’s glove and went over the fence, with three runs scoring.
In the bottom half, Richbourg scored one run on a homer from Rebholz. Sweatt singled but was picked off at first by sixth-grade pitcher Anderson who came in as relief. Anderson then gave up a homer and walked a Roadrunner. However, Anderson got another pick at first for the second out. The next batter grounded out to third for the final out.
Destin had five pitchers that threw Monday evening. Matt Hutchison started and went two innings, facing 14 batters, striking out three, giving up four hits and three walks. Little, up next, faced nine batters, struck out one and gave up three hits. Marshall threw to 11 batters, gave up two hits, two walks and struck out two. Kinard pitched the sixth inning with a strike out and two hits. Anderson pitched the last inning, giving up two hits and a walk.
Up next for Destin is a 3:30 p.m. game at home today against the Davidson Panthers.
•The Destin Lady Marlins blasted Richbourg 11-2.
After a slow start, the Lady Marlins had a big finish.
“In the fourth inning it was like they woke up and they started crushing it,” said Destin Coach Carrie Plaiser.
Abbey Diekmann and Rachel Dehlinger each had three hits for Destin, while Alex Matthews connected for two.
Dehlinger went the distance in the circle for Destin with 15 strikeouts, four walks and two hits.
As a team, “they played well,” Plaiser said.
The Lady Marlins play at 3:30 p.m. today at home against the Davidson.