Mustangs clinch share of SHAC championship
DODSONVILLE — For the 23rd time in the history of the Southern Hills Athletic Conference, the Lynchburg-Clay baseball team has clinched at least a share of the championship.
Thursday night saw the Mustangs fend off a hard-nosed North Adams team, as the host LC squad won by a 3-2 score.
The Mustang senior class have now won three of the past four Division I SHAC titles, as they were the runners-up last season.
LC has also won four of the past five titles.
"This is exciting for the team," LC head coach Garyn Waits said. "To win three out of four titles with the senior class is special. We just don't want to end it here."
Scoring for the Mustangs (15-2) came in the second, fourth and sixth innings, securing the win.
In the second inning for the new SHAC champions, Ryan Inman singled to start the inning. Inman moved over to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Morgan Ryan.
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Inman scored the first LC run off an error, which allowed Christian Inman to take first base.
The score was tied at 1-1 with a run scored by Blake Bradley of the Green Devils, as he initially walked to reach the bases.
"North Adams always gives us trouble," Waits said. "They do something we can't handle. Hank (Sparks), the starting pitcher of NA, pitched very well against us."
LC regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth with Ryan Inman again crossing home plate for the Mustangs. It again was Christian Inman who helped his brother, Ryan, score a run for the 2-1 lead.
The final and third run for the Mustangs was also scored by Ryan Inman. This time, he was batted in by Ryan.
Ryan Inman finished 2-for-2 with a walk and three runs.
The Mustangs totaled eight hits, with Devin Pierson, Gage Waits, Cory Snider and Josh Bauer each having one hit.
Waits was also the winning pitcher, going 4.2 innings on the mound. He allowed one earned run on three hits and five walks. He struck out four.
Pierson earned the save. He pitched 2.1 innings, allowing no runs on no hits and a walk.
The Mustangs can clinch the outright league title on Monday, as they will host Ripley in a makeup game. On Tuesday, they will wrap up their SHAC slate with a game at Whiteoak.