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Lewis County bombards Deming with eight home runs in 24-5 win
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 11:10 PM EDT
The game came to its merciful conclusion after the Lions sent 17 hitters to the plate in the fifth inning, scoring 13 runs on 13 hits.
Zach Shaw led off the fifth with a line drive that cleared the left field fence, but it was just the first of six home runs in the inning for the visitors from Vanceburg. Others who got into the home run act in the fifth inning were Jake Bolander (his second of the game), Coty Dermon, Kyle Frerichs, Jared Pruitt and Frankie Witten.
Witten led the offensive onslaught with a 5-for-5 performance, which included four runs scored, a double and a homer. He also drove in the first run of the game, driving in Shaw with his double to deep center field in the first.
"Frankie came in to today hitting .375, we can't ask for more than he did today, and he also anchors our defense in the infield," said Lewis County coach Josh Hughes. "Our leadoff hitter, Jeremy Lykins (who was 2-for-2 with a home run), leads the team at .545, and he's had maybe one game all season when he didn't get at least one hit."
Lewis County began the game with a nine-run first, which included six hits and three Deming errors. The Lions sent 15 hitters to the plate and the damage could even been worse for the home team, with the visitors leaving the bases full.
Deming starting pitcher Nathan Skaggs struggled with his control and the freshman was pulled after hitting Ryan Calvert with a pitch, making him the third such victim of the inning. Skaggs also surrendered a base on balls and gave up a long home run to Bolander, a shot that cleared the shelter house beyond the left field fence.
Darius Workman came on in relief of Skaggs, and the junior was touched up for a three-run line-drive home run from Lykins before allowing a pair of singles and a runner to reach on an error. He ended the inning with a strikeout and a fly out to leave the bases loaded.
The Lewis County coach was pleased with his club's errorless defense, as well as the explosive offensive attack.
"We swung at good pitches and no matter who we play, or where we play, we have to be ready. The eight home runs has got to be a school record and the 24 runs is the most I can remember scoring since I've been around Lewis County," said Hughes. "Today was also the second error-free game we've had recently. We've only made three or four in the past week or so, and we've been working hard on our defense. We're going to be all right if we can continue to play that well defensively."
The Devils, who are fielding a shorthanded squad following the loss of five players who quit the team recently, sliced an 11-0 deficit to 11-5 with two runs in the third and three in the fourth, before the fateful fifth inning.
A line-drive, two-run home run over the left field fence from Workman got Deming on the board in the third inning, and the Devils added three more in the fourth on only one hit. After four walks, Garrett Young lined a shot into the gap in right-center field to plate a pair.
The Lions (14-10) host Elliott County today, while the 8-14 Devils go on the road to face Villa Madonna.
Lewis County 911 0(13) 24 23 0
Deming 002 3 0 5 6 6
WP -- Bolander. LP -- Skaggs. Hitting leaders: LC: (Lykins 2-2, HR, 2R, 4RBI; Pruitt 1-2, HR, 2RBI; Shaw 3-5, 2B, HR, 3R, RBI; Witten 5-5, 2B, HR, 4R, 3RBI; Bolander 2-5, 2HR, 4RBI; Downing 1-3, R; B. Calvert 1-1, 2R, RBI; Dermon 1-3, HR, 2R, 2RBI; Frerichs 2-3, 2B, HR, 3R, RBI; Cropper 2-4, R, RBI.) DHS: (Young 1-3, 2B, 2RBI; Workman 1-3, HR, 2RBI; Clifford 2-3; Skaggs 1-3, R; Schalch 1-1, RBI.) Records: Lewis County 14-10, Deming 8-14.
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