Centennial rally downs Pack 9-6

Published 9:53 pm Saturday, April 8, 2006

MOULTRIE — For the Colquitt County High baseball team, Saturday’s storm was just a little too late in coming.

With the black clouds rolling in and with wind picking up, Centennial High struck for three runs in the top of the seventh inning and when the Packers were only able to send one batter to plate in the bottom of the inning, the Knights took a 9-6 victory at Ike Aultman Field.

The Packers had rallied from a 6-4 deficit to tie the game 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth, but a lightning bolt caused the umpires to call the game with one out in the bottom of the seventh.

The loss was the fourth of the week for the Packers, who fall to 5-12 for the season.

The victory enabled Centennial to salvage a spring break split. The Knights lost to Lee County 5-2 on Thursday and headed back to Roswell to see what the Friday night storms had done to their homes.

Andrew McDowell retired the Knights in order in the top of first, ending a string of two games in which the Packers had surrendered a total of 17 first-inning runs.

The Colquitt County offense responded with three runs in the bottom of the first to take a rare first-inning lead.

Andrew Wallace opened the game with a walk and Carter Jones followed with an infield hit.

Matt Weaver followed with a bunt that Centennial starter C.J. Lusted picked up and threw into left field while trying to get Wallace, who scored the game’s first run.

Jones scored when Tyler Perryman hit into a double play. Scotty DeMott drove in the third run with a two-out single.

Centennial got two of those runs back in the top of the second on three hits and a costly error.

Colquitt got a sacrifice fly from Andrew Wallace in the top of the fourth to go up 4-2, but the Packers had the bases loaded and just one out in the inning and that was the only run they managed.

Then Knights appeared to break the game open in the top of the fifth, scoring four times off of McDowell. The big blow was a two-out, three-run double by left fielder Reid Keeling.

The Packers rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth.

Bo Williams opened the inning with a walk off Robert Evers, a sophomore junior varsity pitcher. One out later, Wallace doubled to put runners on second and third.

Jones got his third base hit of the game to score Javaris Jackson, who was running for Williams.

Weaver followed with a single to drive in Wallace to tie the game 6-6.

But Chance Pitts lined to third baseman Mike McDonald, who threw to second to double off Jones and end the inning.

DeMott had relieved McDowell in the top of the sixth and got the final out, stranding two runners.

But in the seventh, Lance Worley reached on an error to open the inning and Bassham followed with a long homer to left to give the lead back to the Knights.

A double by David Bassham and the Packers second error of the inning produced the third run, putting the Knights up 9-6.

Before the Packers could bat in the bottom of the seventh, the rain started, umpires halted play and tarps will put on the mound and home plate area.

The rain stopped and although it appeared only a matter of time before the storm would swoop in, the umpires sent the players back out.

Tyler Perryman grounded out, but before DeMott could get a shot at his third hit of the game, a bolt of lightning convinced the umpire to call the game.

Centennial, which raised its record to 10-7, was led by Bassham, the big catcher, who was 3-for-3 with a double, a single, a walk and the two-run homer.

McDonald added to 12-hit attack with a pair of singles.

Worley, Keeling, Daniel Marsh, Andy Panarelli, Kyle Delapp, Brad Kapit and David Bassham had the others.

Kapit, who relieved Lusted in the first inning, worked 4 1/3 innings to get the win.

The Packers had nine hits, including three by Jones, who raised his average to .382. DeMott was 2-for-3 and is now hitting .396.

Wallace, Weaver, Williams and Cato had the other hits. Williams’ fourth inning single was his first varsity hit.

McDowell pitched the first 5 1/3, giving up six runs, none of which were earned, and 10 hits. The sophomore left-hander struck out three and walkd two.

DeMott took the loss, giving up the final three runs, only one of which was earned, in 2/3 of an inning. He gave up the home run and the double in the seventh.

Freshman John Michael Harrison got the final two outs and did not give up a hit, although he hit the first batter he faced with a pitch.

The Packers will try to even their Region 1-AAAAA record when they travel to Lowndes on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, Houston County will go to Coffee and Tift County will play at Valdosta.