11th inning error
lifts Forestview
over KM Friday
The visiting Forestview Jaguars’ Austin Parker scored an unearned run in the top of the 11th and then relief pitcher Cooper Botts struck out the side in the bottom of the inning to defeat Kings Mountain 2-1 in a Big South 3A Conference game Friday night at Lancaster Field.
The loss was the first in the conference for the Mountaineers who were 5-1 and a game behind unbeaten Crest heading into a game with an always-good South Point nine last night at Lancaster Field. The two teams meet again Friday in Belmont. Kings Mountain goes to Blacksburg SC next Monday for a 6 p.m. varsity only non-conference game and returns home Tuesday to host the Stuart Cramer Purple Storm.
Kings Mountain’s Wyatt Davis, who had pitched very well after coming on to relieve Peyton Fisher in the top of the ninth, was the victim of the winning run which came on a catcher’s throwing error that went into left field as the Forestview runner was attempting to steal third.
Forestview, which had lost to the Mountaineers three nights earlier in Gastonia, led off the 11th with a pop-up single by Osborne that just got over the infield to short left field. An infield grounder hit Osborne and he was called out, but batter Parker made it to first. On second after a passed ball, Parker broke for third and came all the way home on the error.
Neither team did anything to write home about at the plate as each had four hits. The Jaguars didn’t get their first hit off KM starter Charlie Melton until two outs in the top of the fourth. Melton had retired the first 11 batters, including five on strikeouts, before Parker managed a single to center.
KM’s first hit in the bottom of the fourth was a long home run over the left field fence by Colton Mayes to put the Mountaineers up 1-0.
Melton put the visitors down in order again in the top of the fifth and KM missed a golden opportunity to add to their lead in the bottom of the inning as they loaded the bases with no outs. But two strikeouts, followed by a high fly to deep left-center by Mayes that looked like it may go out was caught just inside the fence.
The Jaguars came in and got an infield single by Carson Adams, a sacrifice bunt by Ethan Bray and a single by Potts to tie the game.
The Mountaineers missed a golden opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the seventh after a single by Hamrick to start the inning, followed by Zane Brockman being hit by a pitch. An out later, Melton laid down a perfect bunt and beat it out to load the bases. Mayes hit a bloop-type fly ball toward third. With Hamrick breaking for the plate, the fly was caught and the Jaguars doubled Hamrick off third.
Peyton Fisher and Davis both did a good job of relief for the Mountaineers. When he took the mound to start the ninth, Davis fanned the side and fanned two more in the 10th and one in the 11th. The three KM pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts.
The loss was the first in the conference for the Mountaineers who were 5-1 and a game behind unbeaten Crest heading into a game with an always-good South Point nine last night at Lancaster Field. The two teams meet again Friday in Belmont. Kings Mountain goes to Blacksburg SC next Monday for a 6 p.m. varsity only non-conference game and returns home Tuesday to host the Stuart Cramer Purple Storm.
Kings Mountain’s Wyatt Davis, who had pitched very well after coming on to relieve Peyton Fisher in the top of the ninth, was the victim of the winning run which came on a catcher’s throwing error that went into left field as the Forestview runner was attempting to steal third.
Forestview, which had lost to the Mountaineers three nights earlier in Gastonia, led off the 11th with a pop-up single by Osborne that just got over the infield to short left field. An infield grounder hit Osborne and he was called out, but batter Parker made it to first. On second after a passed ball, Parker broke for third and came all the way home on the error.
Neither team did anything to write home about at the plate as each had four hits. The Jaguars didn’t get their first hit off KM starter Charlie Melton until two outs in the top of the fourth. Melton had retired the first 11 batters, including five on strikeouts, before Parker managed a single to center.
KM’s first hit in the bottom of the fourth was a long home run over the left field fence by Colton Mayes to put the Mountaineers up 1-0.
Melton put the visitors down in order again in the top of the fifth and KM missed a golden opportunity to add to their lead in the bottom of the inning as they loaded the bases with no outs. But two strikeouts, followed by a high fly to deep left-center by Mayes that looked like it may go out was caught just inside the fence.
The Jaguars came in and got an infield single by Carson Adams, a sacrifice bunt by Ethan Bray and a single by Potts to tie the game.
The Mountaineers missed a golden opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the seventh after a single by Hamrick to start the inning, followed by Zane Brockman being hit by a pitch. An out later, Melton laid down a perfect bunt and beat it out to load the bases. Mayes hit a bloop-type fly ball toward third. With Hamrick breaking for the plate, the fly was caught and the Jaguars doubled Hamrick off third.
Peyton Fisher and Davis both did a good job of relief for the Mountaineers. When he took the mound to start the ninth, Davis fanned the side and fanned two more in the 10th and one in the 11th. The three KM pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts.