Hornets top Pointers in 11
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 14, 2008
SOUTH POINT — All the Coal Grove Hornets wanted was one more chance, and once they got it they capitalized.
After missing numerous scoring chances earlier in the game, the Hornets scored twice in the 11th inning to beat the South Point Pointers 6-4 in an Ohio Valley Conference game Tuesday.
“We had our chances and they did, too,” said Hornets coach John Jones. “We gave them a bunch of runs or it would have been over in seven.”
One chance the Pointers had to win came in the 10th inning when Tyler Smith doubled to lead off the frame only to have Hornets’ pitcher Wayne Sparks retired the next three batters to end the game.
“Three more feet up the fence and that’s the ball game,” said Jones. “But we blew our share of scoring chances.”
After all their failed chances, Coal Grove pushed across the winning runs in the 11th.
Alex Johnson doubled with one out. Taylor Dean was safe on an error to put runners on the corners. Shannon Goodwin singled for the go-ahead run and Tyler Allen had a two-out single to score an insurance run.
The Hornets went up 2-0 in the first inning.
Zack Murphy walked, stole second base, took third on a throwing error, and Sparks singled in the run. After Sparks stole second, Dean had an RBI single.
The Pointers got a run back in the bottom of the inning Jordan Fletcher walked, stole second and scored on a throwing error.
The lead went to 3-1 in the third inning when Johnson, Dean and Jake Murphy all singled.
South Point tied the game in the bottom of the third.
Steven McClure singled, Kyle Dickess was safe on an error, Fletcher reached on a fielder’s choice to put runners on the corners, and Jacob Seagraves had a two-out base hit for a run. Smith singled to knock in the tying run.
The Hornets went up 4-3 in the fifth Dean reached on an error, Goodwin walked and Jake Murphy single.
In the sixth, Josh Esque reached second base on an error and scored after a couple of passed balls.
Coal Grove (13-8) hosts Rock Hill Wednesday in a league makeup game.
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Taylor Dean, Wayne Sparks (5), Zack Murphy (8), Wayne Sparks (10) and Jake Murphy, Taylor Dean (10). Jacob Seagraves, Kyle Hughes (4) and Steven McClure. W-Sparks (7-K, 2-BB, 0-ER). L-Hughes (6-K, 5-BB, 1-ER). 2B-CG: Alex Johnson; SP: Tyler Smith. Hitting-Coal Grove: Zack Murphy 1-5, Wayne Sparks 2-5, Alex Johnson 2-6, Taylor Dean 3-5, Shannon Goodwin 1-4, Jake Murphy 2-5, Tyler Allen 2-6, Oakie Haynes 2-4; South Point: Beau Weed 2-6, Jacob Seagraves 2-5, Tyler Smith 2-6, Steven McClure 2-3.