Lamar varsity baseball defeats Wilson
By Don Gearhart
The final score was 13-12 on a brisk night in Lamar. There were long runs by both teams, but no pass attempts. Because this was a baseball game, in case one was thinking a football contest. It was an entertaining event with the two teams combining for 25 runs, 23 hits, 14 walks, 5 hit-by-pitch, and 8 errors.
In the top of the first inning, Troy Jones led off for Wilson with a double, then scored on Rondell Law’s sacrifice fly to right field.
Lamar answered with a trio of runs in the bottom of the inning. Tyler McManus got things started by drawing a walk. Hunter Watford was then hit by a pitch. When Deven Phillips RBI single was thrown out of play, both Watford and Philips crossed the plate giving Lamar a 3-1 cushion.
The Silver Foxes added a run in the second when PJ Munford walked and scored when Zoom Jackson’s fly ball to right was dropped for an error.
Then the first long run came for Wilson in the top of the third AJ Williams walked but was forced out at second on Jones grounder to short. Dawson Young laced a base hit with Jones moving to third.
Jones scored on the back end of a double steal. Daniel Roberts walked to put two aboard. Law then smashed a liner that cleared the right center fence for a three run homer.
Deuce Perry singled, then scored on Chris Peterson’s double. The five spot put Wilson on top 6-4 going into the bottom of the third. Phillips walked and Ethan Hunt singled. Phillips was put out when he got caught between third and home.
Hunt scored, though, when Gavin Windham struck out but was alive when the catcher’s throw to first sailed into right field. Jayzon Parnell singled and Munford walked to load the bases but a strikeout ended any further damage.
Neither team scored in the fourth inning. Wilson opened the fifth when Roberts was hit by a pitch.
Kirk Durant, pinch running for Roberts, scored on Peterson’s base hit, then Peterson scored on Doron Bennet’s base hit giving Wilson an 8-5 lead. The second long run occurred in the bottom of the fifth.
Hunt walked and with one out, Parnell walked. Munford hit into a fielder’s choice but both runners were safe when the ball was booted. With two outs, lightning struck when Jackson singled home a run.
McManus garnered an RBI when he walked scoring Munford. Watford was then hit by a pitch scoring McManus. Phillips then plated two with a base hit. The six runs made the score 11-8 in favor of Lamar after five innings.
Wilson crept closer in the sixth when Williams got aboard on an error and scored when Young’s grounder was misplayed. He later scored on a booming double by Law. The Tigers tied the score in the top of the 7th. Perry led off with a double and eventually scored the tying run when Williams singled. On the play Peterson was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
Lamar had a chance to end the game in regulation when Jackson reached first on a hit-by-pitch with one out and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by McManus. Watford then delivered a soft single to right. On the play, Jackson made a wide turn at third, then stopped, and was out when he was unable to elude the run down.
In the eighth, after one out Young walked and stole second. He scored on Roberts base hit. Wilson eventually loaded the bases but were unable to pad their lead. With their backs to the wall, Lamar started the bottom of the inning when Phillips was hit by a pitch, He was sacrificed to second.
With two outs Lamar’s fate would rest on Jayzon Parnell. Down 0-2 in the count, he eventually worked a walk putting runners on first and second. Munford became the hero when he doubled home both runs on a line drive double down the right field line.
Zoom Jackson was the winning pitcher and Troy Jones suffered the loss.PITCHING:
Wilson:
Kirk Durant 3 1/3 IP, 5 R, 4 H, 7 K, 4 BB, 1 HBP
Rondell Law 1 1/3 IP, 6 R, 2 H, 3 K, 3 BB, 1 HBP
Troy Jones 3 1/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 K, 1 BB, 2 HBP
Lamar:
Jayzon Parnell 3 IP, 6 R, 5 H, 2 K, 4 BB
Devin Phillips 2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 2K, 0 BB, 1 HBP
Zoom Jackson 3 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 2 K, 2 BB
HITTING:
Wilson:
Chris Peterson 4 H, 2b, RBI
Rondell Law 2 H, HR, 2B, 5 RBI
Troy Jones 2 H, 2B
Deuce Perry 2 H, 2b
Lamar:
Devin Phillips 2 H, 3 RBI
PJ Munford, 2 H, 2 RBI