LCHS Cougars pound Port Gibson
Published 6:00 am Thursday, March 20, 2003
MONTICELLO – The Lawrence County Cougars swept a baseballdoubleheader against the Port Gibson Blue Wave Wednesday night atJimmie Davis Park. In the first game, LCHS exploded for a 26-7 win.The Cougars followed that up with a 14-1 thumping of the Blue Wave.Both games were halted after five innings because of the 10-runrule.
With the wins, Coach Chris Clark’s Cougars improved to 7-7overall, and 5-2 in Division 6-4A play. The wins were the third andfourth in-a-row for the Cougars. Clark was understandablypleased.
“We had a good night,” Clark said. “The obvious truth is thatPort Gibson isn’t one of the stronger teams on our schedule, but Ithought our guys took care of their business tonight. I was happythat we were able to get all of the kids we dress out in bothgames.”
The ball was really flying at Jimmie Davis Park in the firstgame and, early on at least, it was Blue Wave hitters who wereputting the ball in flight. In the top of the first, Port Gibsonbrothers Arthur and Keon Brandon both swatted homers to give theBlue Wave a brief 4-0 lead.
Undaunted, Lawrence County battled right back. In the bottom ofthe first, the Cougars scored five runs on two hits, with centerfielder Michael Thompson’s two-run homer being the blast that gotLCHS back into the game.
After Port Gibson touched Cougar starter Klein Harbour foranother run on two hits in the top of the second, the Cougarsexploded for nine runs on four hits in the bottom of the inning. Inthe third, Thompson’s second two-run homer of the night capped afour-run rally. In the fourth, LCHS put up eight runs.
While Lawrence County bats were running up the score, Harboursettled in to get a complete-game win. Though he did allow anothertwo-run homer to Arthur Brandon in the fourth, Harbour went thefull five innings. He gave up seven runs on six hits and struck outnine.
Thompson’s two homers and five RBI’s led the LCHS offensive.Harbour, Marlon Stanfield, and Luke Watts also had two hits apiece.David Gilbert, Casey Williams, Kyle Huguley, Hugh Hartzog, andJonathan Stephens each had one.
Arthur Brandon went three-for-three to lead Port Gibson.
Lawrence 14, Port Gibson 1
The second game was equally one-sided. While Lawrence Countyright-hander Marlon Stanfield was limiting Port Gibson to just onerun on two infield singles, Cougar hitters were again having theirway. LCHS scored six runs on three hits in the first, and eightruns on four hits in the second.
Harbour, playing right field in the second game, wenttwo-for-two with three RBIs. Third baseman Luke Watts added twodoubles and drove in two runs. Thompson, Williams, and Stanfieldeach had one base hit.
On the mound, Stanfield struck out nine, while allowing just onerun on two hits.
Lawrence County was scheduled to make up a rained out game atRaymond on Thursday, but that game has again been postponed by wetconditions. On Friday, LCHS and Port Gibson are scheduled toconclude their three-game series, presumably at Port Gibson. TheCougars will visit Wesson for a junior varsity/varsitydouble-header on Saturday night.