Gulf Shores and Baker kicked off their season today at Hank Aaron Stadium. Despite temperatures barely above freezing, both teams were excited to finally kick off the 2021 season. Gulf Shores pitcher Thrasher Steed threw four scoreless innings, striking out seven while allowing only two hits. Steed, Mattox Johnson, and Austin Nix all had multiple hits for the Dolphins. 

After a scoreless first inning, Steed and Johnson started the second with back to back hits. Jackson Achimon drove in Steed, and Dominic Maldet singled to score Johnson.  Austin Nix knocked in the third run of the inning and later scored on a wild pitch. Steed retired the side in the bottom of the second, then singled in the third and was driven in by Maldet, giving the Dolphins a commanding 5-0 lead after three innings. Maldet also had an outstanding day behind the plate. He threw out a runner in the first inning on a straight steal, and later threw out two more runners after blocking balls in the dirt.  

Gulf Shores scratched an unearned run in the fourth. Mattox Johnson came on in relief of Steed and the Dolphins headed to the sixth inning with a 6-0 lead. Connor Roberts' RBI single pushed the lead to 7-0. Marc Stephens bases loaded line drive plated two more for the Dolphins, extending their lead to 9-0. Gulf Shores added two more runs on a wild pitch and a fielder’s choice. Baker’s Landon Lary singled to cut the lead to 11-1 in the bottom of the sixth before Johnson was able to close the game in six innings.

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