Hillcrest edges Lamar 2-1 in pitcher's duel
Southern Sports & Travel
Hillcrest Christian and Lamar squared off Monday night in a key District 3-AA matchup. Southern Mississippi signee Josh Rogers pitched a complete game three hitter with nineteen strikeouts and only allowed one earned run. Lamar School’s John Countiss responded with a complete game four hitter with seven strikeouts and surrendered one earned run on the night.
Lamar struck first in the third inning when Gunner Catlett connected for a RBI single to plate Barrett Dudley and give Lamar the lead at 1-0. Hillcrest responded in the bottom of the frame when a fielders choice scored their lone run of the inning. Each team would threaten in the next three innings but solid defense and pitching kept the game tied at 1-1. In the top of the seventh, Lamar would place a man on third with no outs and could not plate the run. Two strikeouts and a groundout ended the threat and setup the fireworks in the bottom of the frame. After a leadoff walk and a fielding error, Justin Smith delivered a one out hit to deep center field which plated the winning run for the Cougars.
Scott Nabors had a single and Chase Davis had a double for the Raiders. Austin Hartzog had a single and Caleb Baucum added a double for Cougars.
Southern Sports & Travel
Hillcrest Christian and Lamar squared off Monday night in a key District 3-AA matchup. Southern Mississippi signee Josh Rogers pitched a complete game three hitter with nineteen strikeouts and only allowed one earned run. Lamar School’s John Countiss responded with a complete game four hitter with seven strikeouts and surrendered one earned run on the night.
Lamar struck first in the third inning when Gunner Catlett connected for a RBI single to plate Barrett Dudley and give Lamar the lead at 1-0. Hillcrest responded in the bottom of the frame when a fielders choice scored their lone run of the inning. Each team would threaten in the next three innings but solid defense and pitching kept the game tied at 1-1. In the top of the seventh, Lamar would place a man on third with no outs and could not plate the run. Two strikeouts and a groundout ended the threat and setup the fireworks in the bottom of the frame. After a leadoff walk and a fielding error, Justin Smith delivered a one out hit to deep center field which plated the winning run for the Cougars.
Scott Nabors had a single and Chase Davis had a double for the Raiders. Austin Hartzog had a single and Caleb Baucum added a double for Cougars.
Hillcrest improves to 12-7 overall and 4-2 in district play while Lamar slips to 8-7 and 2-4.
Lamar returns to action Tuesday at Pickens Academy while Hillcrest hosts Leake Academy.
