Rams Shutout vs Scots!

March 20, 2010

Purnell Swett High School


Scotland silences Purnell Swett by Shawn Stinson 

PEMBROKE - What started as a pitcher's duel for nearly five innings turned when the contest was delayed for nearly an hour because of an injury.

After the break, the Scots scored four times in the top of the fifth to pull away for a 6-0 win in the first game of the Southeastern Conference slate for both schools.

Scotland's Curt Britt and Purnell Swett's Mark Oxendine were cruising along, allowing just six hits between them in the game's first four innings. In the top of the fifth, Purnell Swett's starting shortstop Matt Lowry went down after fielding a ground ball. Lowry was taken off the field by ambulance and taken to a local hospital. Purnell Swett coach Kelly Chavis was unsure of the extent of the injury.

The 52-minute delay caused both coaches to ponder on making pitching changes.

"I really thought about not sending Mark back out there," Chavis said. "One of our goals for our pitchers is to get to the fifth and he was almost there."

Scotland coach Tommy Britt, like Chavis thought about pulling his pitcher, but decided to stay with Curt Britt.

"I talked it over with my assistants and we felt like we had to get the win because it was the first conference game," Tommy Britt said. "Plus, he's a strong kid and was pitching well. I think he got stronger in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings."

Curt Britt closed out the seventh by striking out the side, but sandwiched in between was a hit batter and a fielding error by the Scots (5-1, 1-0). For the game, he struck out eight and allowed just two hits.

The Rams (2-4, 0-1) put a runner on third three times in the game, but came up empty reach time. The closest Purnell Swett got to plating a run was in the bottom of the sixth. Thomas Ravels walked to open the frame and moved to second on Brandon Callahan's ground out. After a strikeout, Brad Ray notched an infield single to advance Ravels to third. Joshton Locklear smacked a deep fly ball to right field, but Scotland's Cody Marcure made the catch to end the threat.