Hornets outscore Brook
Published 1:17 pm Monday, March 15, 2010
On a cool, windy day, the Loyd Star Hornets relied on their batsand outscored the host Brookhaven Panthers 15-9 Saturday on MoyerField. The Hornets, who got a first-inning solo homer from LeeboBairfield, also capitalized on eight Brookhaven errors in a seesawgame that featured four lead changes.
“I’m proud of our guys for battling,” said Loyd Star coach JonathanBreakfield. “We hit the ball hard.”
Breakfield’s Hornets (6-2) held Brookhaven scoreless and hitlessthe last four innings. Starting pitcher Tyler Case (2-1) overcame arocky start to notch the win, allowing four hits. In five innings,he struck out three batters and walked eight as home plate umpireJud Johnson called a tight strike zone.
Austin Travis replaced Case in the top of the sixth and held thePanthers hitless the final two innings.
The Hornets, credited with five errors, watched the Panthers gain a9-9 deadlock in the third. Loyd Star responded with three runs inthe fourth as Brandon Canny slapped a 2-RBI single to left makingit 11-9. Travis Keene’s single drove in the third run for a 12-9lead.
In the fifth, after T.J. Floyd reached on an error and Korey Allendoubled down the third base line, Case provided a sacrifice buntthat scored the 13th run.
The Hornets added two more runs in the sixth, scoring on an errorand a passed ball.
“We had a sloppy effort in the wind,” said BHS coach Randy Spring,expressing his disappointment. “Loyd Star has a very good team fromthe top to the bottom. We misplayed some balls and they came upwith the big hits. You have to make plays on defense.”
Sophomore Dylan Newell started for Brookhaven and lasted until thesixth when he was replaced by Patrick Valentine with two runners onbase and no outs. Newell gave up nine hits, walked two and fannedtwo.
Bairfield’s solo homer was a high slice to right field and thegusting northerly wind helped send it over the fence near the 320mark. Allen chalked up two doubles in the victory.
In the bottom of the first, Scottie Peavey’s 3-RBI triple to thebase of the left-field fence gave BHS a 3-2 advantage.
In the second inning, BHS pulled ahead 7-5. J.D. Britt’s grounderdrove home Chris Seals and Gabe Wilson scored on an error.
Canny’s RBI single reduced his team’s deficit to 7-6. An error sentLoyd Star’s seventh run across home plate. Cody Smith’s single tomade it 9-7.