By Dallas Bordon
Madison County’s baseball team opened its 2012 season with two close losses this past week, falling on the road to Prince Avenue Feb. 23 and at home to Hebron Tuesday.
Baseball team opens season with close losses
“We have to get a lot better,” said MCHS head coach Charlie Griffeth, whose team will make up a rainout at Hart County today (Thursday). “But we got to play and see where we stand, figure out batting orders and pitching rotations. Like I told the guys, we’re going to have some growing pains, but we want to have everyone playing their best by region time — that’s the goal.”
The 4-3 nine-inning loss to Hebron had a little bit of everything from a 45-minute delay due to a wet field, extra innings, seven errors between the two teams and a few outstanding pitching performances.
Brock Turner got the start for the Raiders, pitching the first three innings without allowing a hit. Turner struggled at times, issuing six walks but also finished the night striking out seven of the 14 hitters he faced. Turner was charged with just one run in the contest.
Hayden Frey followed with a strong outing, pitching five innings allowing two runs on two hits and striking out three and issuing four free passes.
“Hayden threw well,” said Griffeth.
On the flip side of the diamond, Hebron’s Mason Felt put on a show of his own by striking out 10 Raiders. Daniel Brooks pitched one inning, allowing one run and no hits while setting down two batters on strikeouts in relief for the Raiders.
The game started as a pitcher’s duel between Turner and Felt. Madison County squeezed out the game’s first run in the opening inning after leadoff batter Daniel Townsend reached on an error and scored on a single to right field by Bo Hardman. Madison County threatened for more in the frame but ended up stranding two runners in scoring position.
Both pitchers then took control for the next couple of innings, mowing down each batter they faced.
Hebron used a leadoff walk to open the third inning and ended up tying the game at one on an error by the Raiders. Turner pitched his way out of further trouble after striking out Hebron’s PJ Westberry to end the inning with runners stranded at first and second.
Hebron attempted to capture the lead in the fourth inning after Ben Cash drew a walk from Raider reliever Hayden Frey. Cash later advanced to second but was left hanging after Frey struck out Tyler Hutch to end the threat.
Hebron put together another threat in the fifth frame after putting the go-ahead run at third, but Frey would have the final say again after striking out Drew Coker to end the inning. The visiting Hebron squad ended up pushing across a 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh inning after using a lead off bunt single from Hutch. Hutch would swipe second and reach third on a throwing error only later to score on a passed ball from Raider catcher Bo Hardman.
Hebron’s one run lead didn’t last long as Madison County answered to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh. Logan Pace started the rally with a double to the gap in left center field. Pace was lifted for pinch runner Caleb McCain who touched home with the tying run compliments of a wild pitch.
The Raiders seemed to be headed for the win in the seventh frame after Brock Turner reached on an error and Frey walked. Turner reached third on a wild pitch and attempted to score the game winning run after Hebron’s catcher allowed a passed ball, but Turner was caught at the plate to send the game into extra innings.
Hebron again took a one-run lead in the top of the eighth inning. A leadoff triple by Lou Stevens did the damage as he ended up crossing home on a perfect squeeze bunt by Robby Stevens. The Raiders answered again with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame and again had a chance to win. Daniel Townsend drew a leadoff walk and came home to later score on a single to left by Daniel Brooks. Madison County ended up stranding two runners on base in the inning sending the game to the ninth inning where Hebron would take a final lead and the win. Hebron’s Nathan Holt drew a walk and came home for the final run of the game on the Raiders’ fifth error.
Daniel Brooks, Bo Hardman, Logan Pace and Brock Turner each had one hit. Brooks and Hardman both had an RBI each.
VERUS PRINCE AVE.
The Madison County baseball Raiders opened their 2012 campaign last Thursday falling to Prince Ave Christian 8-7. Madison County jumped out early in this contest aided by home runs from Daniel Brooks and Hayden Frey in what seemed to be an easy first win for the Raiders.
But it would be the home Prince Ave team that would have the final say as the Wolverines battled back with a four-run sixth inning to steal the win.
Madison County pushed across a run in each of the first two innings. Josh Dalton walked and later scored on a single by Bo Hardman. Madison County earned a two-run lead an inning later on Brooks’ solo homer to left center field. Madison County squandered chances to add to the lead in each inning by twice having a base runner picked off first base.
Raider starting pitcher Alex Jordan kept Prince Avenue from staging any kind of threat in the first three innings. Jordan, who finished the game with a no decision, struck out four Wolverines over the first three innings. Madison County extended their lead to 6-0 after dropping in a four run fourth inning. Following a walk to Brooks to lead off the inning, Hayden Frey lined a shot over the right field fence giving Charlie Griffeth’s boys a 4-0 advantage. Later in the frame, Logan Pace drove home both Caleb McCain and Brock Turner with a single up the middle.
Madison County’s 6-0 lead wouldn’t last as Prince Avenue got to Jordan in the fourth with a two-run triple, cutting the lead to 6-2. Lee Griffeth entered the game in relief of Jordan and retired the final two batters in the inning. Griffeth would run into some trouble of his own in the fifth as the Wolverines added two more runs compliments of back-to-back doubles that pulled Prince Avenue to within two. Madison County got out of further trouble in the inning after Raider reliever Daniel Brooks got Prince to tap into an inning-ending double play.
Madison County added its final run of the game in the sixth inning after Brock Turner scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Brooks. Prince Avenue answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning, aided by three doubles, to take the one-run win. Madison County left a total of 10 men on base in the loss.
Brooks took the loss on the hill allowing four runs on five hits in 1.2 innings pitched. Lee Griffeth was charged with two runs on two hits in one total inning pitched and Jordan, who started the game, surrendered two runs on three hits while striking out five batters in 3.1 innings of work. Brooks and Frey led the Raiders at the plate with two hits and two RBIs each.
The 4-3 nine-inning loss to Hebron had a little bit of everything from a 45-minute delay due to a wet field, extra innings, seven errors between the two teams and a few outstanding pitching performances.
Brock Turner got the start for the Raiders, pitching the first three innings without allowing a hit. Turner struggled at times, issuing six walks but also finished the night striking out seven of the 14 hitters he faced. Turner was charged with just one run in the contest.
Hayden Frey followed with a strong outing, pitching five innings allowing two runs on two hits and striking out three and issuing four free passes.
“Hayden threw well,” said Griffeth.
On the flip side of the diamond, Hebron’s Mason Felt put on a show of his own by striking out 10 Raiders. Daniel Brooks pitched one inning, allowing one run and no hits while setting down two batters on strikeouts in relief for the Raiders.
The game started as a pitcher’s duel between Turner and Felt. Madison County squeezed out the game’s first run in the opening inning after leadoff batter Daniel Townsend reached on an error and scored on a single to right field by Bo Hardman. Madison County threatened for more in the frame but ended up stranding two runners in scoring position.
Both pitchers then took control for the next couple of innings, mowing down each batter they faced.
Hebron used a leadoff walk to open the third inning and ended up tying the game at one on an error by the Raiders. Turner pitched his way out of further trouble after striking out Hebron’s PJ Westberry to end the inning with runners stranded at first and second.
Hebron attempted to capture the lead in the fourth inning after Ben Cash drew a walk from Raider reliever Hayden Frey. Cash later advanced to second but was left hanging after Frey struck out Tyler Hutch to end the threat.
Hebron put together another threat in the fifth frame after putting the go-ahead run at third, but Frey would have the final say again after striking out Drew Coker to end the inning. The visiting Hebron squad ended up pushing across a 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh inning after using a lead off bunt single from Hutch. Hutch would swipe second and reach third on a throwing error only later to score on a passed ball from Raider catcher Bo Hardman.
Hebron’s one run lead didn’t last long as Madison County answered to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh. Logan Pace started the rally with a double to the gap in left center field. Pace was lifted for pinch runner Caleb McCain who touched home with the tying run compliments of a wild pitch.
The Raiders seemed to be headed for the win in the seventh frame after Brock Turner reached on an error and Frey walked. Turner reached third on a wild pitch and attempted to score the game winning run after Hebron’s catcher allowed a passed ball, but Turner was caught at the plate to send the game into extra innings.
Hebron again took a one-run lead in the top of the eighth inning. A leadoff triple by Lou Stevens did the damage as he ended up crossing home on a perfect squeeze bunt by Robby Stevens. The Raiders answered again with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame and again had a chance to win. Daniel Townsend drew a leadoff walk and came home to later score on a single to left by Daniel Brooks. Madison County ended up stranding two runners on base in the inning sending the game to the ninth inning where Hebron would take a final lead and the win. Hebron’s Nathan Holt drew a walk and came home for the final run of the game on the Raiders’ fifth error.
Daniel Brooks, Bo Hardman, Logan Pace and Brock Turner each had one hit. Brooks and Hardman both had an RBI each.
VERUS PRINCE AVE.
The Madison County baseball Raiders opened their 2012 campaign last Thursday falling to Prince Ave Christian 8-7. Madison County jumped out early in this contest aided by home runs from Daniel Brooks and Hayden Frey in what seemed to be an easy first win for the Raiders.
But it would be the home Prince Ave team that would have the final say as the Wolverines battled back with a four-run sixth inning to steal the win.
Madison County pushed across a run in each of the first two innings. Josh Dalton walked and later scored on a single by Bo Hardman. Madison County earned a two-run lead an inning later on Brooks’ solo homer to left center field. Madison County squandered chances to add to the lead in each inning by twice having a base runner picked off first base.
Raider starting pitcher Alex Jordan kept Prince Avenue from staging any kind of threat in the first three innings. Jordan, who finished the game with a no decision, struck out four Wolverines over the first three innings. Madison County extended their lead to 6-0 after dropping in a four run fourth inning. Following a walk to Brooks to lead off the inning, Hayden Frey lined a shot over the right field fence giving Charlie Griffeth’s boys a 4-0 advantage. Later in the frame, Logan Pace drove home both Caleb McCain and Brock Turner with a single up the middle.
Madison County’s 6-0 lead wouldn’t last as Prince Avenue got to Jordan in the fourth with a two-run triple, cutting the lead to 6-2. Lee Griffeth entered the game in relief of Jordan and retired the final two batters in the inning. Griffeth would run into some trouble of his own in the fifth as the Wolverines added two more runs compliments of back-to-back doubles that pulled Prince Avenue to within two. Madison County got out of further trouble in the inning after Raider reliever Daniel Brooks got Prince to tap into an inning-ending double play.
Madison County added its final run of the game in the sixth inning after Brock Turner scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Brooks. Prince Avenue answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning, aided by three doubles, to take the one-run win. Madison County left a total of 10 men on base in the loss.
Brooks took the loss on the hill allowing four runs on five hits in 1.2 innings pitched. Lee Griffeth was charged with two runs on two hits in one total inning pitched and Jordan, who started the game, surrendered two runs on three hits while striking out five batters in 3.1 innings of work. Brooks and Frey led the Raiders at the plate with two hits and two RBIs each.
Trackbacks
Trackback specific URI for this entry
No Trackbacks