By BLAINE WOOTEN – Sports Writer
On March 29, the Alcovy High School Tigers traveled to Athens, Ga. to play out a JV baseball doubleheader against Clarke Central High School Gladiators.
At 5:30 p.m. on March 29, game one of the Clarke Central High School-Alcovy High School doubleheader began. Eighth-grader Noah Fairbairn started for CCHS and allowed six hits and five earned runs over five innings of pitching.
Freshman Jordan Bonner started as pitcher in game two of the double header, allowing only two hits and one run in the first three innings. Photo by Porter McLeod.
CCHS held a lead of 3-2 through the first two innings, but Fairbairn ran into trouble in the top of the third. Alcovy got men on first and second base via walks and then capitalized by driving both in with a triple.
After a throwing error and a stolen base, Alcovy scored another run and had a man on second base. Yet another throwing error allowed the runner to third and another run was scored after a groundout to shortstop.
CCHS had four hits through the first two innings but only one hit in both the fourth and fifth made up the rest of CCHS’ offense in game one.
There was a spark of a comeback in the bottom of the fifth when eighth grade catcher Luis Solis shot a double into left field and advanced to third on a single by eighth grader Tripp Thompson. Solis then scored on a passed ball by the Alcovy catcher, making the score 4-7. However, CCHS would not score again and Alcovy won game one.
Freshman Jordan Bonner took the mound to start the second game and would allow only two hits and an earned run through his first three innings.
Freshman Chandon Haynes came up with a big single in the bottom of the third inning, driving in Thompson and fellow freshman teammate Terry McHugh and giving CCHS a 3-2 lead.
Heading into the fifth and final inning of regulation, CCHS still held the 3-2 lead. CCHS then committed two errors, thus allowing Alcovy to score the tying run. CCHS would not score in the bottom of the fifth, sending the game into extra innings.
With Bonner still pitching, the top of the sixth started off with two consecutive strikeouts. Bonner was still performing well, but after a fielding error in the outfield and a passed ball, there was an Alcovy man on third.
Bonner walked the next man, and then all hell broke loose. Alcovy’s centerfielder drove a pitch out to center field where CCHS could not make a play. The ball rolled all the way to the outfield fence and an inside-the-park home run was plated, putting Alcovy on top 6-3.
