SPORTS

Destin Marlins put Pirates away in short order on the baseball diamond

The Destin Log

The Destin Marlins pounded out seven hits to put the Pryor Pirates away 11-0 in four innings of middle school baseball Tuesday evening in Destin.

“We had some really good swings to start us off and set the tone in the first inning,” said Destin Coach Matt Cawthon.

Destin’s lead-off batter Jace Cunningham and Landon Ullrich hit back-to-back home runs to start the Marlins in the bottom of the first. The home run shots were the fifth for both young men.

Destin's Jace Cunningham trots back to the dugout after slapping his second home run of the game and his sixth for the season. Destin beat Pryor 11-0.

Cunningham said it was a fast ball that he knocked over the left field fence.

“I hit it close to the hands … I didn’t think it was going,” Cunningham said.

However, the ball cleared the fence and landed on the track around the football field.

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As for Ullrich, he said hit a fast ball as well.

“It was right there,” Ullrich said, as he motioned with his hands to make a square, noting the sweet spot.

Landon Ullrich belted a home run in the first inning against the Pryor Pirates. It was his fifth of the season for the Destin Marlins.

Jordan Figueroa followed Ullrich with single up the middle and later stole home. Palmer Robbins walked and scored on a single from Cannon Wilbur. Destin led 4-0.

In the top of the second, Destin sat Pryor down quickly. After the first batter walked, Destin catcher Ullrich picked off a Pirate trying to steal second. Figueroa then struck out the next two batters.

In the bottom half, Destin put six more runs on the board on walks and errors. Destin led 10-0.

Caden Job got his first appearance on the mound for the Marlins. He came in to pitch in the third inning against Pryor.

In the top of the third, the Marlins again held the Pirates in check.

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Destin scored one last run in the bottom half on a home run shot from Cunningham. Cunningham nailed the first pitch across the plate directly out center field for his sixth home run of the season.

The Marlin defense shut Pryor down in the fourth for the shutout.

Jordan Figueroa started on the mound for the Destin Marlins in their 11-0 victory over Pryor.

“To come in here and run-rule a team two weeks before the season ends was good,” Cawthon said. “We just got to keep it rolling … got to keep being good teammates.”

The Marlins used three pitchers. Figueroa pitched the first two innings, striking out four and walking two. Caden Job pitched the third and Cooper Smith finished off in the fourth with one strike out.

Cooper Smith finished up on the mound for the Destin Marlins in the fourth inning. This was his first appearance for the varsity team.

“They did a fine job,” Cawthon said, noting this was Job and Smith’s first varsity appearance for the Marlins.

Last week the Marlins put the Ruckel Rams away 13-3 and the Meigs Wildcats 10-8, both on the road.

With the win Tuesday evening, the Marlins moved to 9-1 on the season.

Destin's Brody Ray slides in safely at home in the second inning. Destin won the game 11-0.

They will be playing a non-conference game on Monday, April 25, against Emerald Coast Middle School. The game will be played at South Walton High School. Game time is 6:30 p.m.