Lions win battle of county schools


Thursday, April 19, 2007
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Lions win battle of county schools

By CLAUDE VINSON
Sports Editor

Photos by Ronnie Day

Lions vs. Cardinals
(Top) Eric Tucker lifts the bag and dirt as he slides safely into second. Byers’ Tristan Kizer (1) takes the throw. (Above) Justin Stephens (right) gets a “high five” from teammate T.W. Bryson after scoring on an inside-the-park homer.

On a chilly, rainy afternoon Tuesday, April 10, the Potts Camp Cardinals arrived at Mount Pleasant to take on county and district rival H.W. Byers.

Brandon Starnes led on the mound for the Lions, who were trying to get back to the district playoffs for their second consecutive year. Starnes retired the first batter but gave up the first hit to Billy Mitchell, but he had the next batter swinging. A quick throw to first by catcher Victoren Hooker retired the side.

Eric Tucker was throwing for the Cardinals. He faced Hooker first, who took a ball and a strike, then sent one to left of center for a single. Devin Moore followed with a hard, fast grounder which scored Hooker. The bases had filled and Tristan Kizer, who was stealing like a bandit, made it home on a passed ball. The next Byers batter was out at first and that left two men on.

After one complete inning it was the Lions out front 2-0.

The Cardinals were held scoreless again in the top of the second. Terrance Hale put the Lions back on the base paths with a single. The Lions scored one run and left one man on. It was the home team still out front 3-0 after two.

Potts Camp got two hits and advanced a man to third. Cody Joyner stole his way home to put the Cardinals on the board.

The Lions tacked on another score in the third, but the fourth carried the excitement although there were no runs scored. However, there were stalls and a rundown to prevent the Lions from adding another score.

The teams entered the fifth with Byers leading 4-1. It had turned into a pitching duel with Starnes and Tucker each recording nine strike outs. Also a chilling drizzle, which had been threatening all afternoon, was now constant. It didn’t hinder play.

With two men on, T.W.Bryson stroked a single to left field and got a run-batted-in. Justin Stephens blasted an inside the park round tripper and a RBI, upping the score to 7-1 when the fifth ended.

The Cardinals’ bats were still not making the grade in the top of the sixth when the Lions sent Bryson to the mound in relief. The Cardinals were again held scoreless during their turn at bat.

That didn’t apply to Byers, Kizer dropped a beauty between the first bagger and right field to score one of the four scores the Lions would turn in the bottom of the sixth. The game was halted at that point with the Lions winning 11-1.

Head coach Eddie Dixon said the Lions didn’t hit as they should. He was pleased they stole so many bases.

The district playoffs, which started last Thursday in most except Region 1-2A, were completing on Saturday. On Sunday, Coach Dixon said District 1-2A would be sending only two teams. Had the customary four had been used the Lions would have made the playoffs.

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