Greenville crushes Georgiana

Published 12:00 am Monday, March 20, 2006

Greenville picked up its fourth win in its past five games on Tuesday after cruising past Georgiana 11-2 in six innings.

Antonio Smith improved to 2-0 on the mound by allowing two hits, two walks and two earned runs in five innings of work, while striking out seven Panther batters.

While Smith kept Georgiana's batters at bay, Greenville (7-4) managed to scatter eight hits.

Still Tigers coach Bobby Hughes said that he is concerned that his team is not producing early in the game.

&#8220I just don't know why it is that we can't seem to score any runs early,” Hughes said. &#8220I've been doing a lot of teaching lately when it comes to hitting to teach them the little things that hopefully will help them down the road.”

Greenville was once again shut out in the first inning, but did plate a run in the second before erupting in the third with four runs.

Georgiana did respond in the top of the fourth by plating a run, but Greenville's Lynn Lewis responded in the bottom of the frame with a solo home run to center field.

Lewis finished the day with two doubles and the solo home run, which marked his second of the young season.

Greenville put the finishing touches to the victory in the fifth and sixth innings by scoring five combined runs.

David Stephenson chipped in with two hits and two stolen bases, while Marcus Mickles had two hits and four stolen bases.

&#8220I'm real pleased with how well our guys are running the bases,” Hughes said. &#8220We have a lot of speed on this team and that really surprised me. I would have to say this is the quickest team I've ever had.”

Greenville played host to Hillcrest-Evergreen on Friday in a doubleheader, but results were not available by presstime.

The Tigers then will take their game to the Sunshine State to play four games during spring break. Greenville will face Holmes County in Bonifay, Fla., on Monday before taking on Chipley High in a doubleheader on Tuesday.

The Tigers close out their Florida trip on Wednesday in Marianna to face Vernon High at Chipola Junior College.