The Suwannee Bulldogs 2015 varsity baseball team defeated the Tallahassee Leon Lions at Booster Field by a score of 9 to 1 in the season opener for both teams on Tuesday, Feb. 10. It was the first of a 25 game, regular season schedule for the Bulldogs, who played host to District 2-5A foe Tallahassee Rickards Wednesday at 6.  

In the win over Leon, the Lions got on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning, scoring one run on a hit batter, two singles, and an infield error. It would be the only run of the game for Leon. Suwannee bounced back in the bottom of the frame, scoring a run on an error by the second baseman off the bat of centerfielder Tim Carter, a sacrifice bunt by second baseman Jackson Greene, a ground ball single into left field by

leftfielder Wyatt Jackson, and a passed ball by the catcher allowing Carter to score.

In the bottom of the second inning, rightfielder Rhett Baldwin doubled into the left centerfield gap leading off the inning. Starting pitcher John LeDew then reached on an error by the third baseman, with Baldwin advancing to third on the play. First baseman Chase Hatfield then drilled an rbi single into right field scoring a run, and Carter had

an rbi line drive single over the head of the rightfielder plating the second run of the inning and putting the Bulldogs up by a score of 3 to 1.

After going scoreless in the third, Suwannee struck for four more runs in the bottom of the fourth to break the game open. With one out, Greene singled back through the middle, Jackson singled into rightfield off the glove of the second baseman, and catcher Sam McMillan was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Shortstop Parker Stephens then rifled a double over the head of the third baseman into the leftfield corner that drove home two runs, leaving runners at second and third. A wild pitch scored McMillan from third, and a throwing error on the Lion second baseman allowed Stephens to score the final run of the inning for a 7 to 1 Suwannee lead.

Two more runs would cross the plate in the bottom of the sixth. Greene drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a pair of passed balls, then scored on a Jackson double down the leftfield line. Baldwin singled to drive home the final run of the game, giving the Bulldogs a 9 to 1 lead and the win.

LeDew earned the win in his first start of the year, pitching four and two-thirds innings, allowing one unearned run on three base hits with a walk and a strikeout. Relief pitcher Brandon Furry came on with two outs in the top of the fifth and pitched two and one-thirds innings to garner a save. Furry allowed no hits, no walks, and struck out one.

Multiple hitters in the game were Jackson with three hits, and Greene and Baldwin with two each. Greene also had three web gems from his second base position, and scored two runs to go along with his two hits in earning player of the game honors.