Blazers pull away from Brewton-Parker

Published 4:28 am Tuesday, December 6, 2005

Valdosta State scored six runs in the seventh inning to pull away for a 9-2 victory over Brewton-Parker on Tuesday in Mount Vernon.

The Blazers (12-9) took an early 3-0 lead in the first two innings. Robert Morgan led off the game with a triple and scored on an error. Then in the second inning, the Blazers loaded the bases on an error, a single and a hit-by-pitch. Scott Brooker scored on a wild pitch, then Davy Cheek’s sacrifice fly scored Juan Alonso.

That 3-0 lead held up until the bottom of the sixth, when Brewton Parker’s Joe Donahue hit a two-run homer to cut the Blazer lead to 3-2.

Then VSU exploded in the seventh, crossing the plate six times to pull away. The Blazers loaded the bases again, then Brooker was hit by a pitch, forcing in a run. An error by third baseman Justin Dover allowed Brian Hicks and Jud Seymour to score. Then Morgan launched a three-run homer to left, making it 9-2 Blazers.

That’s all VSU reliever Michael Martinez would need. Martinez shut out the Barons the rest of the way to get the save. In five innings of work Tuesday, Martinez struck out 11 batters.

The win went to Robert Petrucci (4-2), who allowed only one baserunner in four innings of work and struck out four.

At the plate for VSU, Morgan was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI. Alonso also went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Cheek had two RBI, while Brooker scored two runs.

For Brewton-Parker, Ashley Hooks had three of the team’s six hits. Former VSU and Lanier County High player Grafton Kent went 0-for-4.



“Welcome to Moe’s,” the weekly radio show for Valdosta State women’s basketball coach Kiley Hill, will be held from 7-8 p.m. today at Moe’s Southwest Grill. All fans are welcome to attend.



Garrett Bowen’s three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth gave Tiftarea its first lead of the game, and eventually a 6-5 win over Valwood Tuesday in Tifton.

Valwood led 5-3 going into the sixth, but Tiftarea started the inning with a couple of singles. Then Bowen sent a T.C. Armes pitch over the fence for his game-winning long ball.

“Good teams find a way to hit three-run homers when they need them,” Valwood coach Brett Martin said. “I hate losing that game. But this was one of our best games so far this season.”

Valwood jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three runs in the first inning. Zac Henry scored on a wild pitch, then Brandon Hattermann’s two-run single gave the Valiants a 3-0 lead.

Ryan Johnson scored on a Kenny Green groundout in the fourth, making it 4-0. But the Panthers rallied with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, cutting the Valiant lead to 4-3. Johnson scored on a Henry groundout in the fifth, making it 5-3.

At the plate, Jon Miller was 2-for-4, while Johnson scored twice and Hattermann had two RBI. Armes allowed seven hits and four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.

“T.C. pitched a whale of a game,” Martin said. “He held one of the top two offensive teams in our region to just three runs, until their third hitter hit that three-run bomb.”



Open Bible’s softball team routed Byne Christian 29-6 Tuesday in Albany.

For OBS (4-1), Shatara Ross had four hits, including a grand slam, drove in seven runs and scored three runs — and was the winning pitcher. Teammate Jessica Peterson slammed two home runs, drove in three runs and scored three times. Lady Warrior sisters Hannah and Hillary Smith each had two hits, two RBI and three runs scored.

Open Bible’s baseball team also defeated Byne Christian Tuesday, 6-1. Kyle Elder had two RBI for the Warriors. Paul Phillips pitched a complete game for the win, allowing just one run and striking out seven.



The Georgia Christian JV soccer team defeated Southland 6-2 Tuesday in Dasher.

Samantha Sloan had three goals and Brandon Cunningham two for the Generals. Seth Ennis and Nathan McCall each scored for Southland.



The Valdosta Middle boys tennis team defeated Hahira 5-0 Monday. Jamie Childree (8-5), Adam Buescher (8-1), and Tommy Cangelosi (8-6) won in singles, while Trav Harris and JP Nichols (8-5) and Cal Reissiger and Johnny Anderson won in doubles.

The Hahira Middle girls defeated Valdosta 3-2. Mary Beth Hansen (8-1) won in singles for Hahira, while Emily Rhodes and Karen Nicholson (8-3) and Hannah Kline and Brianna Stodsvobt (8-3) won in doubles. Valdosta got wins from Carly Cangelosi (8-6) and Shelby Sharp (8-3).

Valdosta Middle will play Lowndes Middle at 4 p.m. Friday at McKey Park.



Berrien came through with a run in the eighth inning to beat Lanier County 4-3 on Tuesday.

The Rebels needed only four hits to win the game, including Ryan Stone’s two-run single in the sixth that tied the game and forced extra innings. Sylvester West had a RBI double for Lanier (5-2), which lost for the second time in extra innings.