Greenville hits 12 homers over the weekend

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Over the weekend, the Greenville High School varsity baseball team did something head coach Brad Horn has never seen.

In just three games, the Tigers hit an astonishing 12 homeruns en route to wins over Highland Home and Pike County.

During Saturday's games at Pike County, the Eagles hit seven homes as they cruised to victory over the Bulldogs 11-0, 22-8.

In the first game, the Tigers took an early 4-0 lead as Ethan Mauch launched a two-run homerun followed by Zac Smith with a two-run homerun.

The Tigers added two runs to the lead in the second inning, two more in the third inning and two more in the fourth when Casey Weston knocked a two-run homerun to make the score 10-0.

Offensively for the Tigers, Mauch, Weston and Demarcus Robinson each had two hits, with Mauch and Weston each finishing with three RBI's.

Ryan Smith, Jamontay Pilson, Stephen Croley and Zac Smith each scattered a hit, with Smith finishing with two runs scored, two RBI's and two sacrifices.

&#8220Zac is really improving and he is holding it down behind the plate,” Horn said.

For the Bulldogs, Deion Nickson had the only hit of the game with a fifth-inning single.

Weston earned his second win for Greenville while finishing with nine strikeouts.

&#8220Casey is really throwing the ball well,” Horn said. &#8220He's looking good for us on the mound.”

The Tigers will return to action Friday at Charles Henderson at 5 p.m. The Trojans defeated the Tigers twice in the season-opening double header.

Although Friday's game is not an area game, Horn knows if f the Tigers can earn the win, it would go a long way in building his team's confidence.

&#8220I think we are loosening up at the plate and we have a lot of confidence now,” Horn said. &#8220I think we're hitting a hot streak at the plate at the right time.”

Greenville 22, Pike County 8

After opening a 4-0 lead over the Pike County Bulldogs Saturday during the second game of a double header, the Greenville Tigers saw that lead dwindle in the bottom half of the inning, only to open it up again in the second as they cruised to the 22-8 victory.

Offensively for the Tigers, Ethan Mauch was 3-for-4 with a homerun, three RBI's and two runs.

Demarcus Robinson and Parker Winters had two hits apiece while Zac Smith, Hunter Harrell, Nathan Palmer, Marcus Mickles, Stewart Moody, Cordez Peagler, Lynn Lewis, Casey Weston and Antonio Smith each scattered a hit.

Lewis, Weston and Smith's hits each came as a homerun.

For the Bulldogs, Devin Allen finished with a triple and three runs scored while Cameron Luker had a double and one run scored.

On the mound, Lewis picked up the win for the Tigers while striking out six batters.

Greenville 11, Highland Home 0

The Greenville Tigers struggled out of the gate offensively Friday at Highland Home, but found its groove in the fourth inning when senior Lynn Lewis lead the inning off with a solo homerun.

Holding a 2-1 lead after the fourth, the Tigers added to their lead in the fifth when Ethan Mauch drew a walk to start the inning and then Lewis, for the second consecutive time, blasted a homerun to make the score 4-0.

The Tigers were not done in the inning as two batters later, Stephen Croley found the wall as he blasted a homerun to increase the lead to five.

In the sixth inning, the Tigers found the wall twice more as junior Casey Weston blasted a two-run homerun and then Lewis, for the third time in the game, hit a two-run homerun to seal the win.

&#8220You can't say enough about Lynn's performance,” Horn said. &#8220It's unbelievable, really.”

&#8220That's a night to remember,” he added.

Offensively for the Tigers, Lewis was the leading hitter with a 3-for-4 performance, including three runs, five RBI's and three homeruns.

Jamontay Pilson, Antonio Smith, Croley and Weston also each had a hit in the win.

On the mound, Parker Winters earned his first win of the season for the Tigers while Arico Harris picked up the loss.

&#8220Parker got off to a good start Friday,” Horn said.