Mustangs win in extra innings over Fairfield
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
DODSONVILLE — In a game where there were horses were running loose in a field next to the Lynchburg-Clay baseball field, the Mustang baseball team broke away on the bases in the ninth inning, defeating Highland County rival Fairfield, 8-7 in extra innings.
The nine-inning game saw LC jump ahead 6-0 after two innings, but a two-run third by the Lions, added with a four-run fifth, tied everything up at six at the conclusion of the sixth inning.
Even after all that action, the game continued to get interesting with diving stops in the outfield, timely pitching and a ninth inning by LC where they took advantage of Fairfield errors to eventually get their first win of the season.
In the bottom of the ninth, Gage Waits (2-for-5, three runs) reached first on an error by the Fairfield infield, and in the process reached second base. Waits moved to third on a balk and scored the game-winning run on a two-strike single down the third base line by Chaz Lanier.
Lanier finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs, two runs and one walk.
"In our first two game of the year we were in another world, but (Thursday) we came back with a county rivalry and took that step," LC head coach Garyn Waits said. "We played well at the start and at the end, but the middle of the game we didn't put the ball in play like I wanted."
The first two of the inning of the Southern Hills League matchup, the Mustangs put six runs on the scoreboard, with two three-run innings for a 6-0 lead.
In the first, Tyler Davidson was safe on an error, followed by Waits moving to first on a base hit. With runners at the corners, Lanier singled scoring Davidson.
Wes Pierson followed with a sacrifice fly to score Waits. The third run of the inning came with a two-out single by Scott Cawood for the 3-0 lead.
LC (1-1, 1-2) added three more runs in the second with Davidson, Waits and Lanier all scoring with two runs.
The Lions got on the board in the third, with Chase Fulkerson leading off with a triple. After two fly ball outs, Blake Hildebrant knocked Fulkerson in with a base hit. Kyle Carson followed with a double, scoring Hildebrant.
In the fifth, the Lions tied the game at six after plating four runs off four hits and one error by LC.
The inning began with Wyatt Crothers hitting a double, followed by a walk forced by Cody Bennett. Hildebrant singled to load the bases.
A sacrifice fly to left field by Carson scored Crothers, and in the ensuing at-bat, Zach Cox singled to score Bennett. The next run came when Hildebrant scored on a delayed steal on home, while Cox ended up on third base on the throw to home. Ryan Bates walked and Gage Montgomery singled to plate Cox.
The Lions took their first lead of the game in the seventh, with Carson leading off the inning with a triple. Carson scored on a double by Cox. Cox eventually reached third base on a single by Bates, but neither runner scored. After three games, Cox is 5-for-10 with six RBIs, four runs and two walks.
Carson end the game 2-for-4 with a double, triple, sacrifice fly, two RBIs and one walk. After three games this season, Carson is 6-for-9 with six runs, six RBIs and two walks.
"We cut our errors down (Thursday), we cut them quite a bit," FHS head coach Ritchie Butler said. "After the first two innings we played good baseball.
"We made the routine plays and did that until the last innings. We are a young team, so we are going to have some growing pains."
LC kept the game alive with one run in the bottom half of the seventh without even gaining a hit in the inning.
Lanier walked with one out, stole second, then the game got even more interesting.
After a walk by Pierson (1-for-1, three RBIs, two walks), he stole second, Lanier was at third, and as the catcher threw the ball towards third base, the ball ended up in left field, allowing Lanier to score.
The winning pitcher was Pierson who pitched 4 1-3 innings of relief. The senior allowed one run (earned) on five hits and no walks. He struck out two batters.
"Wes in relief (Thursday) was the best I've ever seen him pitch," Waits said. "He took charge and was in the zone. He pitched some good innings."
Gage Waits began the game on the mound, pitching 4 2-3 innings. He allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits and three walks. He struck out three batters.
The loss went to Joey Wilson of FHS. Wilson entered the game at the top of the ninth and didn't record an out. He allowed one hit and one run, as the run was an unearned run.
Cox pitched eight innings, starting the game for FHS. He allowed seven runs (one earned) on in seven hits and five walks. Cox struck out 13 batters.
LC is scheduled to face Paint Valley Friday at PVHS. On Saturday, LC will host Adena and Western Brown.
The Lions will play again on Saturday, as they have a tri-doubleheader, starting with Fairfield vs.McClain at 10 a.m. at FHS. The next game will be MHS vs. Southeastern at 12 p.m., and then at 2 p.m. FHS will face SEHS.
BOX SCORE
FHS 002 040 100 — 7 14 4
LC 330 000 101 — 8 8 1
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The nine-inning game saw LC jump ahead 6-0 after two innings, but a two-run third by the Lions, added with a four-run fifth, tied everything up at six at the conclusion of the sixth inning.
Even after all that action, the game continued to get interesting with diving stops in the outfield, timely pitching and a ninth inning by LC where they took advantage of Fairfield errors to eventually get their first win of the season.
In the bottom of the ninth, Gage Waits (2-for-5, three runs) reached first on an error by the Fairfield infield, and in the process reached second base. Waits moved to third on a balk and scored the game-winning run on a two-strike single down the third base line by Chaz Lanier.
Lanier finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs, two runs and one walk.
"In our first two game of the year we were in another world, but (Thursday) we came back with a county rivalry and took that step," LC head coach Garyn Waits said. "We played well at the start and at the end, but the middle of the game we didn't put the ball in play like I wanted."
The first two of the inning of the Southern Hills League matchup, the Mustangs put six runs on the scoreboard, with two three-run innings for a 6-0 lead.
In the first, Tyler Davidson was safe on an error, followed by Waits moving to first on a base hit. With runners at the corners, Lanier singled scoring Davidson.
Wes Pierson followed with a sacrifice fly to score Waits. The third run of the inning came with a two-out single by Scott Cawood for the 3-0 lead.
LC (1-1, 1-2) added three more runs in the second with Davidson, Waits and Lanier all scoring with two runs.
The Lions got on the board in the third, with Chase Fulkerson leading off with a triple. After two fly ball outs, Blake Hildebrant knocked Fulkerson in with a base hit. Kyle Carson followed with a double, scoring Hildebrant.
In the fifth, the Lions tied the game at six after plating four runs off four hits and one error by LC.
The inning began with Wyatt Crothers hitting a double, followed by a walk forced by Cody Bennett. Hildebrant singled to load the bases.
A sacrifice fly to left field by Carson scored Crothers, and in the ensuing at-bat, Zach Cox singled to score Bennett. The next run came when Hildebrant scored on a delayed steal on home, while Cox ended up on third base on the throw to home. Ryan Bates walked and Gage Montgomery singled to plate Cox.
The Lions took their first lead of the game in the seventh, with Carson leading off the inning with a triple. Carson scored on a double by Cox. Cox eventually reached third base on a single by Bates, but neither runner scored. After three games, Cox is 5-for-10 with six RBIs, four runs and two walks.
Carson end the game 2-for-4 with a double, triple, sacrifice fly, two RBIs and one walk. After three games this season, Carson is 6-for-9 with six runs, six RBIs and two walks.
"We cut our errors down (Thursday), we cut them quite a bit," FHS head coach Ritchie Butler said. "After the first two innings we played good baseball.
"We made the routine plays and did that until the last innings. We are a young team, so we are going to have some growing pains."
LC kept the game alive with one run in the bottom half of the seventh without even gaining a hit in the inning.
Lanier walked with one out, stole second, then the game got even more interesting.
After a walk by Pierson (1-for-1, three RBIs, two walks), he stole second, Lanier was at third, and as the catcher threw the ball towards third base, the ball ended up in left field, allowing Lanier to score.
The winning pitcher was Pierson who pitched 4 1-3 innings of relief. The senior allowed one run (earned) on five hits and no walks. He struck out two batters.
"Wes in relief (Thursday) was the best I've ever seen him pitch," Waits said. "He took charge and was in the zone. He pitched some good innings."
Gage Waits began the game on the mound, pitching 4 2-3 innings. He allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits and three walks. He struck out three batters.
The loss went to Joey Wilson of FHS. Wilson entered the game at the top of the ninth and didn't record an out. He allowed one hit and one run, as the run was an unearned run.
Cox pitched eight innings, starting the game for FHS. He allowed seven runs (one earned) on in seven hits and five walks. Cox struck out 13 batters.
LC is scheduled to face Paint Valley Friday at PVHS. On Saturday, LC will host Adena and Western Brown.
The Lions will play again on Saturday, as they have a tri-doubleheader, starting with Fairfield vs.McClain at 10 a.m. at FHS. The next game will be MHS vs. Southeastern at 12 p.m., and then at 2 p.m. FHS will face SEHS.
BOX SCORE
FHS 002 040 100 — 7 14 4
LC 330 000 101 — 8 8 1
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