LIONS' DEFENSIVE WOES COUNTINUE AT FCA TOURNEY

LIONS’ DEFENSIVE WOES CONTINUE AS TRINITY WILDCATS SCORE 7 UNEARNED RUNS TO DEFEAT PRATTVILLE IN FCA TOURNAMENT

Prattville took a 4-0 lead over the Trinity Presbyterian Wildcats Thursday afternoon at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery.  Head coach Martin Jackson and assistants Joseph Colvin and Kerry Jeffries were all smiles.

The smiles quickly turned to disappointments as the Lions’ defense once again failed Prattville’s pitching staff.  The Lions gave up seven unearned runs en route to dropping an 8-5 decision to Trinity Presbyterian Thursday afternoon March 7 in their second game in the Jason Armstrong FCA Baseball Tournament.

Prattville has played two games in the tournament and has surrendered 14 unearned runs.

The Lions benefitted from a throwing error by Trinity shortstop Allen Wood in the first inning to race to the 4-0 lead.  Prattville returned the gift with a boot of a fly ball in their half of the inning, and it was downhill for the Lions, as the Wildcats scored three unearned runs and then rallied to win in the sixth inning with three more unearned runs.

Chandler Mullins started the Lions first inning with a single into right field.  Dalton Yarnell followed with a single to left field.  Hayden White then rapped a double play ball to Wood, who booted the ball loading the sacks.

Garrison Mathis walked sending Mullins home.  Chandler Kemp then rapped a double into centerfield plating Yarnell and White. With Kemp going to third, where he scored with a sacrifice fly by Ethan Lambdin and a 4-0 lead.

The Wildcats added three in their half of the inning.  It all started with a drop fly ball in the outfield, followed by a triple from Trace Johnston.  Before the inning was over the Wildcats had trimmed the lead to 4-3.  Trinity is the defending class 3A baseball champions and their resiliency showed during the game.

Prattville added a solo run in the third inning after two was out.  Kemp walked and was balked to second base, where he scored when Ethan Lambdin rapped a single into left field giving Prattville a 5-3 lead.

The Lions never threatened again. Trinity starter Tatum Dean and relief pitcher J. O. Cooper handcuffed Prattville for the next four innings as the Lions had only one base runner, Garrison Mathis singled in the fifth inning after two was out.   Cooper struck out the side in the seventh inning.

The Lions collected only five hits.

Trinity added two runs in the fourth inning, one of those coming on a throwing error by Prattville.

In the bottom of the sixth inning after one was out another Prattville error kept the Wildcats alive, as Zack Walker singled and Brook Stevens worked a 3-2 count for a walk to load the sacks.  Relief pitcher Doug Price got Dean to fly out to short right field for the second out.

Will Holland then worked the count to 3-1 and lifted a fly ball inches over right fielder Chase Barber’s head for a double.  He was tossed out attempting to stretch it to triple, but the damage was done as Holland’s hit cleared the bases for an 8-5 lead.

The Lions went meekly in their final at bat as Cooper struck out the side.