By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

Without their usual arsenal of aluminum bats, the Fayette County Tigers figured out another way to win ballgames against the other 19 teams in the Jonesboro Wooden Bat Classic this weekend: with their arms.

The Tigers finished second in the tournament, with their only loss coming in the championship game Sunday in extra innings. Fayette County had a 2-1 lead early in the game, but host Jonesboro tied it up to send it to the eighth inning.

“It was one of the best games I ever saw,” said FCHS head coach Robert Townsend.

The twist to the tournament was that all teams had to use wooden bats instead of the aluminum, graphite and ceramic bats used in amateur baseball today. That made Cooper Brown's homer to right center against Heritage Friday all the more impressive.

But the Tigers' main key in the tournament was strong pitching, Townsend said.

Josh Hunter twirled a five-inning perfect game against Haralson County Saturday, striking out seven in a row at one point. That game was halted on the mercy rule after FCHS took a 15-0 lead.

Michael Harrell threw a one-hitter Saturday against George Walton, qualifying for the 12-0 win in another game halted by the mercy rule.

Brian Moss pitched a four-hit complete game against Newton County Friday for a win after Brad Burns picked up an 8-6 win over Heritage in the tournament opener for the Tigers.

Pitcher Eric Barnes helped get Fayette County into the championship final Sunday by beating Salem High School 5-2.

“The pitching was really good for us this weekend,” Townsend said. “The hitting was, too.”

Beginning Thursday, Fayette County will host a 25-team tournament, the Fayette County Summer Baseball Classic. Play will be held at all four high schools' fields.

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