The Pike County Central Hawks scored five runs in the 2nd inning and never looked back as they defeated the Tug Valley Panthers, 13-4, on Tuesday.
Pike County Central jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning when Kaden Crum singled to center field to score Blake Hager for a 1-0 lead. The Panthers battled back in the top of the 2nd inning when Austin Smith doubled to center field, scoring Dakota Ooten to tie the score up at 1-1, but Tug Valley wasn’t done in the inning. Ashton Smith then singled home Austin Smith. Later in the inning, Ashton Smith would make it a 3-1 Panther lead when he scored on a wild pitch.
The Hawks exploded in the bottom of the 2nd inning. First Cameron Shearer scored on an error. Luke Thornsbury then scored on a wild pitch to tie the game up at 3-3. Hunter Adkins came home on a fielder’s choice to give Pike County Central the lead. Hager came up and smacked a single to left field, scoring Warren Newsome. Caleb Mouton ended the scoring in the inning when he drove in Hager with a single to right field and a 6-3 advantage.
Adkins then scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 3rd inning to make it a 7-3 game. Ashton Smith gave Tug Valley its last run in the top of the 4th inning on a fielder’s choice. The Hawks made it 8-4 in the bottom of the 4th inning when Patrick Mandrell doubled to center field and then scored on an error. The Hawks then scored four runs in the bottom of the 5th inning. First Mouton drove in Hager with an infield single. Later in the inning, Thornsbury drove home Caleb Compton with a single. Adkins then drove in two runs on a single to make it a 12-4 game. Mouton then singled home Crum for the last run of the game.
Dalton Harris earned the win on the mound, allowing 4 runs and 7 hits while striking out 10 batters. Gage Whit was given the loss for Tug Valley.
Pike County Central is scheduled to play Ridgeview on Wednesday. Tug Valley will face Van on Wednesday.
Photo Courtesy of Dewayne Thornsbury
