By Lonnie Turner

The True Value Tigers won their second straight game last night, stopping the Burger King Braves, 11-8, in the first of two games at Michael Lecholop Park. The Physicians Healthcare Pirates eked out a 3-1 win over the McLeod Health Marlins in the second game and share the lead with the Tigers going into Thursday’s action.

Ahmari Huggins-Bruce and Andrew Bryant led the Tigers at the plate with two hits apiece with both rapping out a two-base hit each. Dylan Williams, Zach Davis and Masen Furr had a hit apiece to wrap up a 7-hit performance. True Value also had seven hits in their 14-4 win over the Physicians Healthcare last Friday. Bryant was the winning pitcher last night allowing only four hits while striking out eight and walking four. Cooper Lane belted a triple for the Braves and drove in three runs in is three at-bats. Gage Hunt was the losing pitcher and the leading batter for the Braves with a two-run double and a single in three trips to the plate.

In the second game, the Marlins were looking to take command of the standings to start the second half, but Noah Carter, in his return to baseball since being sidelined with an injury, sparked a 3-run rally in the fourth inning to take a 3-0 lead. Chandler Pittman led off the top of the fifth with a single and scored the lone run for the Marlins, as they dropped to 1-1 in the second half. Knox Jackson also hit safely for McLeod Health. Carter was 3 for 3, including a double and two singles. Also hitting safely for the Pirates were Quashad Singleton and Brandon Bethea. Carter was the winning pitcher and Pittman suffered the loss.

Action will return on Thursday with the Pirates taking on Pepsi Cola at 5:30 and a Major League contest will follow with The Dillon Family Dental Giants going against the Dillon Meat Center Reds. Three games are scheduled for Friday with True Value hosting Pepsi, the first half winners in the Minors. The Giants will take on the high flying Internal Medicine Hurricanes in the first of two Major League games and the Reds will host the James Lockemy Justice Rangers in the second.