Diamond Recap

By T.J. Morgan, Freelance Sports Writer

The Hornets would begin spring break week at Warren Central’s Breast Cancer Awareness Tournament playing Hart County (4-5) Wednesday morning.

Freshman catcher Ayden Harrison returned to backstop duty Wednesday afternoon after missing four games to the Hornets due to injury.
Photo courtesy of Laurel Garrett

Brackston Pennington made the start on the mound against the Raiders and did not disappoint. Through his first two innings, Brackston had 2 strikeouts and 4 fielders’ assists to Hornet first baseman, Jake Love. Brackston made quick work of the third, but found trouble in the fourth, loading the bases before his departure. Brackston, Collin Shive, and Kruz combined for a well pitched game, giving up only three earned runs. Jax Allen and Kruz Tucker delivered from the plate, each going 2-4. With the score tied 6-6 in the bottom of the seventh, senior Kevin Graham would walk it off for the Hornets, smashing a hard ground ball by the Raider shortstop, scoring Kruz Tucker, and securing a 7-6 Hornet victory.

Winners of three in a row, the Hornets looked to make it four Wednesday afternoon, taking on Cumberland County (4-4) for the third time in just nine days. After a walk off hit Wednesday morning, senior Kevin Graham received the nod on the mound for the Hornets Wednesday afternoon. The Hornet bats showed up and out against the Panther’s pitching staff, putting up 10 early runs on the board, before losing the battle to Mother Nature Wednesday. Storms rolled into the area with the end of the third ending, pushing the remainder of the game to Friday. Before the downpours, Kruz, Jake, and the Bash Brothers, Cole and Collin, had all recorded two hits apiece, with Collin scoring three times for the Hornets.

The Hornets could not pick up where they left off Friday when play resumed, as the momentum swung to Cumberland County. Although Kruz and Cole would continue their slugging ways, Kruz driving in four on three hits and Cole driving in three off his three hits, the defense and pitching would struggle, resulting in a 15-19 defeat against the Panthers.

The Hornets between games Wednesday at Warren Central’s Breast Cancer Awareness Tournament.
Photo courtesy of Laurel Garrett