VALDOSTA —
The Lowndes baseball team improved to 4-5 on the season, defeating the Coffee Trojans 3-0 at Noel George Field on Tuesday night.
With the win, the Vikings improved to 2-0 in Region 1-AAAAA play, with a matchup against crosstown rival Valdosta looming this Friday night.
“2-0 (in region) is better than 1-1 or 0-2, so we will take it,” Lowndes head coach Danny Redshaw said. “It is a big win for us, and we are just happy to be 2-0.”
Lowndes opened the scoring in the bottom of the third inning. A Tyler Rehberg triple started the inning. Garrett Fuller ran for the Lowndes catcher, and scored on a Lance Jarriel sacrifice fly to right field. Fuller’s run gave the Vikings a 1-0 advantage.
Lowndes added to its lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, taking a 3-0 lead on a Luke Miller two-run home run to left field. The homer scored Fuller, who had pinch run for Parker Armstrong and gone to second base on a wild pitch.
Dylan Roberts was stellar on the hill for the Vikings. The senior right-hander allowed six hits in a complete game shutout. He also struck out five batters, while allowing just two walks.
“Great job of pitching,” Redshaw said. “He threw real well last Tuesday against Tifton and, you know, he is our ace. Two walks, we can live with that. We played pretty good defense behind him.”
Roberts’ first hit allowed came in the second inning, surrendering a two-out double to Coffee’s Landon Henderson. Roberts got out of the inning on the following at-bat, as Wyatt Miller grounded out to first base.
“It seems like towards the beginning, it is hard to get the ball down,” Roberts said. “But after the first inning or two, I just fall into a groove. I honestly can’t tell you what it is.”
Roberts cruised into the fifth inning, where he recorded two quick outs in the frame. He then issued a walk, which was followed up by a hit by Coffee’s Santory Long. But, Roberts got out of the inning when Luke Miller threw out Austin Wilder at third base, as the Trojans’ outfielder was attempting to score from first base. The impressive play from the outfield ended the inning and kept the score 1-0.
“You always have to have confidence in your defense,” Roberts said.
Roberts most troubled inning came in the sixth, when he allowed two straight one-out singles. Working out of the stretch, Roberts forced a fly out to center field, which was followed up by an impressive defensive play by Rehberg, who riffled a throw down to Mason Brooks at first base, who tagged out Nathan Moore for the final out of the inning.
“I just try to keep my head together, and just try to go out there and pitch,” Roberts said.
Roberts surrendered another hit in the seventh inning, but once again, his defense bailed him out as Parker Armstrong caught a line drive hit at second and immediately threw the ball to Brooks at first for the double play. Roberts then struck out the final batter of the game.
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Related Photos
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Lowndes’ Dylan Roberts throws a pitch during Tuesday night’s Region 1-AAAAA game against the Coffee Trojans. Roberts earned a complete game shutout in the Vikings’ 3-0 win. Hubby Brooks | The Valdosta Daily Times
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Lowndes outfielder Lance Jarriel (1) high-fives a teammate following an RBI sacrifice fly in the third inning. Hubby Brooks | The Valdosta Daily Times
Discussion
Roberts, Vikings beat Coffee, 3-0
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