West Lincoln sweeps Enterprise

Published 11:45 am Wednesday, April 8, 2015

DAILY LEADER / TERESA ALLRED / West Lincoln's Alex Neal (26) leaps in celebration as his teammates wait to congratulate him at home plate  after hitting a home run in Game One against the Enterprise, Tuesday afternoon.

DAILY LEADER / TERESA ALLRED / West Lincoln’s Alex Neal (26) leaps in celebration as his teammates wait to congratulate him at home plate after hitting a home run in Game One against the Enterprise, Tuesday afternoon.

The West Lincoln Bears are riding a hot eight game winning streak after clinching two huge district wins over the Enterprise Yellow Jacket Tuesday night in Region 7-2A baseball at the Cow Palace.

“Two great team wins,” said West Lincoln first year head coach David Gilbert. “Several people around this area did not think that we would be in this position to possible win district, but my guys continued to work really hard to get to this point, I am extremely proud of my guys efforts. It is great to get these two wins to set up a showdown next week for the district title against the Loyd Star Hornets.”

The Bears (9-7, 7-1) will have the rest of the week off to prepare for the big division series as they visit Loyd Star Tuesday to take on the Hornets. Junior varsity action begins at 4:30 p.m., followed by the varsity game at 6:30 p.m.

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The Jackets (7-9, 4-4), coach by Cass Brister, will looking to snap this current funk that they are in, as they visit Bogue Chitto Saturday to battle the Bobcats. Junior varsity action begins at 11 a.m., followed by the varsity game at 1 p.m.

West Lincoln 14, Enterprise 9 

In Game One of the varsity doubleheader, the West Lincoln and Enterprise fans watched an offensive slugfest as both teams came out hitting, while collecting 24 hits between them, as well as nine for extra bases for a combine 23 run effort.

Even though Hunter Maxwell allowed nine runs over seven innings he still recorded the victory. Maxwell struck out three, walked three and gave up six hits.

Landon Gartman suffered the setback for Enterprise. He allowed seven runs in 1 1/3 innings, walked three and struck out one.

Enterprise jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but West Lincoln battled back to take over the game in second inning to gain a 7-4 lead.

In the third inning , the Jackets one run to cut into West Lincoln’s lead, but the Bears answered by scoring two run to increase their lead to 9-5.

In the final four innings of action, West Lincoln ended up winning the slugfest with a 5-4 run to secure the win.

Alex Neal racked up four RBIs on three hits to lead West Lincoln at the plate. He singled in the first inning, homered in the second inning, and doubled in the fifth inning.

Bryce Temple and Charles Wayne Smith helped powered the Bears with three singles apiece. Ty Foreman contributed a double and a single. Austin Burris provided two singles. Hitting safely were Seth Bivens, Lofton Sills and Maxwell.

Hunter Richardson and Josh Hardin were the top sluggers for Enterprise with a home run apiece. Brady Watts had a double. Tanner Waldrop, Layne Brown and Jeffrey Daniels hit safely.

West Lincoln 16, Enterprise 5 

In Game Two, the Bears and Jackets decided to play another varsity contest due to the possible chance of rain Friday.

The Bears continued their hot hitting streak to claim a 12-0 lead in the first three innings of action.

The Jackets finally managed to break up West Lincoln’s bid for a shutout in the bottom of the third inning as they pushed across four runs to cut into West Lincoln’s lead at 12-4.

In the next three innings of action, West Lincoln outscored Enterprise 4-1 to collect the win in sixth inning.

Seth Bivens provided a stellar pitching performance on the mound for West Lincoln with 16 strikeouts and five walks.

Josh Hardin absorbed the setback on the mound for the Jackets with three strikeouts and four walks. Luke Burns (3K, 2BB) also pitched in relief.

Austin Burris powered the Bears’ offensive attack with two doubles and a single. Bivens contributed a double and two singles. Alex Neal provided three singles. Bryce Temple had two singles. Hitting safely were Daniel Spears, Charles Wayne Smith and Lofton Sills.

Hunter Richardson paced the Jackets offense with a double and a single. Conner Smith had two singles. Cade Feltus hit a double and Hardin had a single.