Wednesday, May 28, 2003
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Wednesday, May 28, 2003 |
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Tigers move into quarterfinals By MONROE
ROARK
The Fayette County Tigers recovered from an opening-game loss to Eagle's Landing in fine fashion, sweeping a Saturday doubleheader to move into the quarterfinal round of the AAAAA state baseball tournament. "We got the momentum and hit the ball well," said head coach Robert Townsend, understating slightly the Tigers got 26 hits on the day and won by scores of 10-2 and 11-1. Joseph Edens got both wins on the mound for Fayette County, whose team record is now 25-5. He pitched a complete-game five-hitter in the first game, striking out eight while throwing only 80 pitches. "There were several innings where he only threw five or six pitches," said Townsend. Lee Hyde got the offense started with a two-run homer in the first. That was it until the fifth, when the Tigers broke a 2-all tie with three runs, then got another in the sixth and four in the seventh, including Steven West's two-run homer (Eagle's Landing was home team for the first game of the day, Game 2 of the series). Having evened the series with the win, Townsend could now look at having the added luxury of not having to use any relief pitchers in the first game. In preparation for the final game, he asked Edens if he would be comfortable in relief if necessary, since GHSA rules allow pitchers up to 10 innings per day. Edens responded by saying that he would prefer to start the game and pick where he left off. Given his performance up to that point, it was an easy decision for the coach to make, and Edens pitched the first three innings of the final game to pick up the win. Offense came early and often for the Tigers in this one, with a run in the first, two in the third, three in the fourth and five in the fifth. Included in the team's 14 hits were a two-run home run by David Owens in the third and a three-run shot by Ricky Williams in the fourth. Austin Wilkes pitched the final two innings, as the game was called due to the 10-run rule. Fayette County starts the next round today with a 5 p.m. doubleheader at South Gwinnett. Townsend and his players have not seen that team this year, but it doesn't matter. "It makes no difference who you play," he said. "You've got to play good on your given day." (To get to South Gwinnett High: Take I-20 east to Turner Hill Road/Hwy. 124 (the exit for The Mall at Stonecrest) and turn left. Go north on Hwy. 124 for 8-9 miles, then turn right on Hwy. 78. The school is on the right, just past the second traffic light. When you pass the school, turn right on Odum Street and park in the parking lot behind the bank. You will be able to see the baseball field behind the school.)
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