LOCAL SPORTS | It started with a 7-2 win over district rivals the Huntland Hornets and just kept going. During the week of March 27, the Moore County Raiders Baseball team swept their series against Huntland and earned a 9-8 win against South Pittsburg to advance to a 4-4 regular season record and 2-0 in District 9 play.
Raiders sweep Huntland in two game series
On Monday, the Moore County big bats got hot and put up seven runs on the Hornets over seven innings. Jace Long got things started for the Raiders on the fifth Moore County at bat when he doubled on a 1-2 count – scoring Hayden Cooper and Keller Morey. In the top of the second inning, Will Parker ground out allowing Aiden Webster to score to make it Moore County 3, Huntland 0. Moore County got their big inning in the sixth – putting up four runs. Keller Morey, Peyton Martin, and Jace Long each batted in runs.
Huntland scored their first run in the third inning when Eli Wiggs scored off a line drive to right field. They scored their last run in the bottom of the fifth inning – when Evan Keller singled on a ground ball to center field, scoring Trace Morris.
Jace Long got the start for the Raiders. He surrendered just two runs and four hits over five and two thirds innings to secure the win. He struck out four. Cole Taylor relief pitched and allowed one hit over a little over an inning.
Jace Long led for Moore County with three hits. Cole Taylor followed closely with two hits. Will Parker, Keller Morey, Luke Gold, and Aiden Webster each added a hit each in game one.
On Tuesday, Moore County managed a narrow one-point victory over the Hornets in Lynchburg while leaning on the pitching of Keller Morey. Morey threw 87 pitches including 12 strikeouts to secure the win. He allowed three hits and just one run.
The game remained scoreless through the first two innings, then Matthew Dickson scored for the Hornets after a wild pitch. Moore County answered in the top of the third when Cole Taylor singled to score Aiden Webster, who had advanced to third on an error by the Hornet catcher one play before.
The game remained scoreless in the four inning, then Moore County scored on another Huntland error in the top of the fifth inning. Jace Long hit a ground ball and reached base on a fielding error by the Horner shortstop. This allowed Will Parker to score the winning run.
Jace Long, Aiden Webster, and Cole Taylor all got a hit each against the Hornets in game two.
Raiders narrowly escape South Pittsburg on Wednesday
On Wednesday, the Raiders traveled to South Pittsburg and put up a seven-point lead over the Pirates through five innings before narrowly escaping with the win. In the sixth, the Pirates snagged seven runs to pull within one point. Bryson Carter caught a pop fly ball in the bottom of the seventh to get the Raiders the one-point win.
South Pittsburg got on the board first with a score by Kamden Wellington following a dropped third strike by Moore County. Moore County answered in the top of the third when Jace Long singled on a pop fly – scoring Cole Taylor. That score got a five score rally going that saw Will Parker score off a steal to home followed by a Keller Morey score off a Aiden Webster single. An at bat later, Jay Sparkman singled on a line drive to the Pirate center fielder – scoring Raider runs four and five by Long and Webster.
Moore County added run number six in the top of the fourth when Keller Morey hit a ground ball and reached second base on a South Pittsburg error allowing Will Parker to score. Then in the top of the fifth, Cole Taylor doubled on a ground ball to center field that scored both Landon Smith and Bryson Carter. Run number nine came in the top of the fourth inning after a Pirates pitching lineup change. Blakely Bobo scored on a steal home. At the end of five innings, Moore County led South Pittsburgh 8-1.
Then the Pirate big bats came to play. They scored seven runs in the sixth inning to pull within one point. After smacking a double on their first seven inning at bat, the Pirates stuck out, grounded out, and popped out to seal the win for Moore County.
Aiden Webster and Cole Taylor led for Moore County with two hits each followed by Jace Long, Luke Gold, and Jay Sparkman who added one hit apiece. Sparkman got the start and the win on the mound – pitching 4.2 innings and allowing just two hits and one run. Both Will Parker and Gavin Wise relief pitched.
Next week, the Raiders play Zion Christian at home on Monday and Spring Hill at home on Wednesday. They travel for Yellow Jacket Classic at Look Out Valley in Chattanooga on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. They play tournament host Lookout Valley on Thursday followed by University High East Ridge on Friday. Their Saturday opponent is yet to be determined. They resume District 9 play on April 10 with a home game against Fayetteville. •
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