Lions Fend Off Panthers, 9-5

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

LOVELADY – The Lovelady Lions welcomed the Normangee Panthers to town on Tuesday, March 19 for a District 21-2A baseball game and were looking to get back on the winning track after back-to-back losses to Leon and Centerville.

The Panthers were just what the Lions needed as Lovelady jumped out to an early lead and then held on as they cruised to a 9-5 win.

Carter Murray got the start for Lovelady while Cobey Powell got the nod for Normangee. After a quiet first inning, the Lions broke on top in the second inning.

Murray was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and B. Crawford came in as a courtesy runner. Crawford took second when Timothy Johnson lined a pitch into left and moved to third on a Powell balk. Crawford scampered home to make the score 1-0 when Jaxson Reeves hit a shot to short that was mishandled.

Lovelady went on to load the bases but Powell was able to work his way out of trouble and send the game into the third inning.

Normangee struck back in the third inning to tie things at one.   Logan Andrews led off with a single but was thrown out at second when Mason Hardy hit into a fielder’s choice. Hardy stole second and moved to third when Powell grounded into a 1-3 force.

After a walk to Bubba Mayes, Brady Harris hit a shot down the third base line which brought in Hardy with the game-tying run. Murray limited the damage, however, as he forced Jacob Schmidt to ground back to the mound for the third out of the inning.

The Lions seized the lead for good in the bottom half of the inning. Both Logan Lowery and Chad Fulgham lined out to center field for two quick outs, but then Powell lost his control and the Lions capitalized.

C. Murray walked and was relieved on the base paths by Crawford. Johnson and Reeves also walked to load the bags. A passed ball allowed Crawford to score while it moved Johnson to third and Reeves to second.

Lane Kellar was up next and he slapped a liner to second which plated Johnson but held Reeves at second. He wasn’t there long though as Seth Murray lined a pitch through the middle of the infield to drive in Reeves and move Kellar to third.

Following Se. Murray’s hit, the Panthers changed pitchers and brought in Schmidt. With little time to warm up, Schmidt plunked Slade Murray on his second pitch to re-load the bases, but he settled down long enough to force Jay Thomas Robinson to pop up for the third out.

Now trailing 4-1, Normangee began to try and chip away at the lead. Blain McKenzie lined out to first to open the top half of the fourth but then C. Murray began to suffer from control issues of his own. He walked Ty Aguirre who moved to second on a passed ball. C. Murray was able to strikeout D. Young but a second passed ball moved Aguirre to third.

From there, Andrews lined a pitch back through the infield to drive in Aguirre. Hardy drew a walk and C. Murray was lifted on the mound. Fulgham came on in relief and managed to strikeout Powell for the third out while keeping the score at 4-2.

Lovelady blew the game wide open in the bottom of the fourth as they crossed the dish four more times to make the score 8-2 by the time the inning ended.

Schmidt walked the first three batters he faced – Lowery, Fulgham and Ca. Murray – and was yanked for McKenzie. Johnson was up next and ripped a pitch to short which was booted. The error allowed both Lowery and Fulgham to score.

On the play, Murray wheeled into third while Johnson took second on the play. Reeves followed in the order and slapped a shot into center to drive in C. Murray and Johnson which made the score 8-2.

McKenzie settled down to retire the side but the damage was done as the Lions now led by six. Both the Panthers and Lions went quietly in the fifth but the two teams both crossed the plate in the sixth to make the score 9-3. The Panthers added two more in the top of the seventh but it wasn’t nearly enough as the Lions held on to win the District 21-2A matchup by a final score of 9-5.

Carter Murray picked up the win in 3.2 innings of work. He gave up two runs on four hits, struck out two and walked five.

Powell was saddled with the loss after he pitched 2.2 innings and gave up four runs on three hits. He also struck out two and walked four.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].

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