Hoyas show off No. 15 ranking

Published 11:17 pm Friday, April 25, 2008

Harrison’s Hoyas wasted no time showing host Murray County why they’re USA Today’s 15th-ranked high school baseball team in the nation, scoring at least three runs an inning — they got four in the second — in a 13-0 thrashing of the Indians in Friday’s game shortened to five innings because of the Georgia High School Association’s 10-run mercy rule.

“This was a great opportunity to play a team that is fundamentally sound in every aspect of the game,” Indians coach Jason Lanham said of the Hoyas. “It’s good for us to see what it takes to get to that level, which is where we want to be.”

Hoyas center-fielder Jamal Austin led off the game with a home run to left field on a 3-1 count off Chandler Puryear, who yielded seven runs and seven hits in two innings. Austin punished Indians pitching with a 4-for-4 performance that included three runs scored, two RBIs and two stolen bases.

The Hoyas (21-1, 7-1) were very aggressive on the base paths with seven stolen bases. However, second baseman Matt Graeff got too greedy in the second, attempting to steal second base while forgetting the bases were loaded. He was tagged out by first baseman Taylor Patterson in one of just two instances where the Hoyas appeared to be human.

The other was an error in the fifth inning that allowed Jaime Rangel to reach base. Rangel, who later stole second, was one of just two Indians baserunners in the game. The Indians (8-14, 1-9) had one hit, a bloop single by designated hitter Tyler Ellis to right in the third off Hoyas starter David Chabucos that dropped in between Graeff and right-fielder Michael Hodorowski.

Chabucos worked three innings, striking out six and walking none.

Puryear was lifted in the third in favor of sophomore Drew Fowler, who didn’t fare much better, going two innings while surrendering six earned runs and seven hits.

The lone bright spot for Murray County was reliever Josh Ensley, who recorded the Indians’ only strikeout while pitching a hitless fifth inning. Hoyas pinch-hitter Colton Houseman was the only runner allowed by Ensley, and he reached on an error.

Harrison’s junior Kyle Burchfield finished off the Indians, striking out five in just two innings.

“We put forth a good effort,” Lanham said. “They (Harrison) gave us something to shoot for tonight.”

• Gordon Central 14, Southeast 3: The Warriors scored 11 runs off four home runs, including two by Sherman Brown and P.J. Haney’s grand slam to rout the Raiders (2-21, 1-11).

Brown smashed a solo shot and three-run blast and Bradley Mason added a three-run homer for the Warriors.

Gordon Central got eight hits and nine runs — all earned — off Raiders starter Dylan Gazaway in 1 2/3 innings Bradley Grant was roughed up for four earned runs and three hits the rest of the way in a five-inning game.

Grant went 3-for-3 with two doubles and one RBI to pace the Raiders’ 10-hit attack. Dylan Massengill had two hits, including a double, and Cory Bevans added two hits with an RBI. Tanner McCutcheon drove in a run with a single.

• Northwest Whitfield 12, LFO 7: The Bruins (10-13, 6-6) completed a season-sweep of the Warriors (13-11, 4-8) in commanding fashion.

Bruins catcher Mitch Souther had two hits, with a double and three RBIs to lead the way, and left-fielder Mitchell Arnold had two hits, including a home run, to go along with two RBIs. The Bruins’

Cody Jones went 2-for-4 with an RBI while Zane Gordon had a hit and two RBIs, as did Brent Stephens.

Matthew Blackwell was the winning pitcher, going 4 1/3 innings with two strikeouts, five hits and three walks. He surrendered six runs.

Jones relieved Blackwell and went 2 2/3 innings for the save, giving up a run on three hits while walking one.

• Christian Heritage 12, Calvary Christian 1: Jarred Cronan pitched a complete game for the Lions (9-5-1, 6-4), giving six hits in six innings while striking out four, walking one and allowing an unearned run in the mercy-rule victory that completed the season sweep against their GISA Region 4-A foes.

Landon McClure led the Lions, going 4-for-5 with five RBIs and a run scored. Gray Hutchinson went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, and Tommy Malerbi went two-for-three with a run scored.

• The Dalton-Ridgeland game at Ridgeland High in Rossville was rained out Friday and rescheduled for today at 2 p.m. The Catamounts and Panthers each have 6-5 records and are tied for third place in the region standings.

MS baseball

• Valley Point 10, Eastbrook 0: Carter Gillean had two hits, including a three-run home run and Blake Foster added three hits, with a double, to pace the Green Waves (6-7).

Matt Wells had two hits, including a double, and Tyler Hale added a triple for Valley Point.

Foster pitched the first five innings, allowing two hits with nine strikeouts. Jacob Moore worked the sixth and recorded two strikeouts.

The same two teams will play Monday in the Whitfield County Middle School Athletic League tournament at Southeast High.

MS softball

• Lookout Valley 7, Christian Heritage 1: Rebecca Leonard pitched four innings and struck out 10 and walked 10 for the Lady Lions (5-5). Ann Marie Massengale had a hit and one RBI for CHS in the game.