VALDOSTA — The Cook Hornets scored 10 unanswered runs in a 13-5 win over the Lowndes Vikings in baseball action Wednesday night at Noel George Field.
Cook (6-3, 2-0) entered the top of the fifth trailing 5-3, but the Hornets put two runs on the board in the fifth, four more in the sixth and four more in the seventh.
The Vikings (2-8, 1-1) were trying to build on the momentum they built from their walk-off win over Colquitt on Tuesday, but Cook stars D.J. Johnson and Kaleb Cowart combined to wreak havoc on the Vikings.
Johnson struggled on the mound for Cook, going four innings and giving up five runs on eight hits and four walks, but his bat made up for his shaky pitching. Johnson, who led off, went 4-for-5 with three doubles, three runs scored, an RBI and a walk.
Cowart came on in relief of Johnson and pitched the final three innings without giving up a run. Cowart allowed just three base runners and struck out four. He was coming off a complete game no-hitter on Saturday against Thomasville where he was clocked in the mid-90s.
The Vikings took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the fourth when Lee Rewis knocked in Zac Freeman with an RBI single.
Vikings starter Ryan Farrill retired five of the last six batters he faced and appeared to be settling down, but he was still lifted in favor of Austin Hill at the start of the top of the fifth inning.
Hill gave up a leadoff single to Wes Warren, then Josh Barks blasted the game-tying home run over the left-centerfield wall to make it 5-5.
The Vikings avoided trouble the rest of the fifth inning, but Cowart shut them down in the bottom half of the fifth.
In the top of the sixth, Johnson led off with a double for Cook and was singled in by Parker Nix to give the Hornets a 6-5 lead. Three batters later, Nix was knocked in on an RBI double by Barks to make it 7-5. Tyler Norton then singled in Warren who walked earlier in the inning to make it 8-5. Barks capped off the inning for the Hornets by scoring on a wild pitch to make it 9-5.
It was more of the same in the top of the seventh. Cooks’ first four batters reached base and all scored in the inning.
Barks went 3-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored for Cook.
Cowart picked up the win.
Hill took the loss for Lowndes after going 1 1-3 and giving up four hits and five runs.
Freeman went 2-for-2 with two singles, two runs scored, two walks and a RBI.
The Vikings will be back on the diamond on Friday when they take on Coffee in Douglas. First pitch is at 7 p.m.
Local Sports
Cook overpowers LHS
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Big win for Lady Blazers
Receiving little respect around the conference, region and nation, the Valdosta State women’s basketball team made a statement Thursday night.
The Lady Blazers put together an impressive defensive performance, mixed in with effective offense, to defeat the Alabama-Huntsville Lady Chargers, who entered the night tied for first place in the Gulf South Conference, 65-55. -
No. 6 Chargers rout Valdosta State, 87-65
The season-long struggles for the Valdosta State men’s basketball team hit an all-time high Thursday night, as the Blazers were blown out by sixth-ranked Alabama-Huntsville, 87-65 at the P.E. Complex.
“It was just a knockout punch from the beginning,” Valdosta State head coach Mike Helfer said. “Give (Alabama-Huntsville) a lot of credit for where they are. They are in the hunt for the league lead and they are a great program. They did what they had to do from the start, which was take control of the game.” -
Lowndes’ Chapman, Talmage named to all-star team
Lowndes softball players Ashley Chapman and Maiah Talmage have been chosen to play in the GACA All-Star Softball Showcase in June.
The GACA All-Star Softball Showcase is an annual softball game between top senior players from South Georgia and North Georgia. The game will be played on June 13 at Alto Park in Rome, Ga. -
Berrien, Cook, Lanier announce 2012 schedules
The Valdosta Daily Times has recently received the upcoming 2012 football schedules for the Cook Hornets, Berrien Rebels and Lanier County Bulldogs.
Lanier County kicks off regular season play Aug. 24 with a visit from Atkinson County. Cook and Berrien begin play on Aug. 31, when the Hornets host Worth County and the Rebels visit Calhoun. -
VLPRA group participates in Special Olympics
On the weekend of Jan. 20-22, 21 Special Olympic athletes from the Valdosta-Lowndes Parks and Recreation Authority traveled to Marietta to compete in the 2012 Special Olympics Georgia Winter Games.
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Lowndes, Valdosta close out regular season tonight
The Lowndes and Valdosta varsity basketball teams close out regular season play tonight.
Lowndes will host Coffee, while Valdosta hosts Tift County. The girls will tipoff at 6 and the boys at 7:30 p.m.
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VSU's Harris suspended indefinitely
A shortened, diminished roster for the Valdosta State men's basketball team took another blow Thursday following the suspension of senior guard Sidney Harris.
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Big weekend ahead for Lady Blazers
It might be an understatement to call this weekend’s two home games for the Valdosta State women’s basketball team a big deal, because that is exactly what they are.
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Blazers fall to Albany State, 7-3
The Valdosta State baseball team was handed a third-straight loss Wednesday night, as the Blazers fell to in-state foe Albany State, 7-3.
The Blazers were held in check for much of the night, despite being aided by nine Golden Ram walks. With runners on base, the Blazers were unable to produce enough offense to score runs, leaving 12 runners stranded in the game. -
Wildcats rally for 50-40 win over Brooks
Valdosta’s boys basketball team came alive in the fourth quarter, and rallied for a 50-40 victory over Brooks County on Wednesday night.
The Wildcats outscored Brooks 24-9 in the fourth quarter, and turned a five-point deficit into a 10-point win. - More Local Sports Headlines
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