BY ANTHONY STEVENS
Sports Correspondent
LEBANON – The Jekyll and Hyde season continues for the Lebanon Pioneers.
After being knocked into fourth place with a one-run loss at Lee on Friday, Lebanon responded Monday in the opening round of the Clinch Mountain District baseball tournament with a 14-1 win over Lee in five innings.
“It’s like our season, up and down,” Lebanon coach Doc Adams said. “I never know which team is going to show up. We acted like we wanted to play today, but this is what we should have done Friday.”
In a surprise, Lebanon went with ace Cody Compton on the mound. The left-hander overmatched the Generals, retiring 13 of the first 14 he faced and striking out 11.
Compton allowed his first hit with one out in the fifth and final inning when Chad Kelly collected a bunt single. Justin Terry followed with an infield single, then Mason Cook then ended the shutout with a run scoring single up the middle.
“I thought Compton threw well,” Adams said. “I had to throw him, if we didn’t win today there was no tomorrow. We might get rained out (Tuesday) and be able to get him another day (of rest).”
There wasn’t much suspense, as 12 batters came to the plate for the Pioneers in the first inning and seven scored. Lebanon added four more runs in the second and three additional runs in the third.
Sutton Coleman, one of only four seniors on the Lebanon roster, was 2-for-2 and two RBIs.
“It’s always good to get an early start,” Coleman said. “Everybody hit the ball and Cody pitched real well. This is a good way to bounce back.”
Compton, J.L. Kegley, and Daniel Boardwine also had two hits in the game for Lebanon. Boardwine drove in four runs with two doubles.
Eight players collected a hit for Lebanon. The Pioneers also played errorless defense, although there wasn’t a lot of balls put in play by Lee (5-13).
The CMD semifinals will be held today at the Battle Field. After Gate City opens up against Virginia High, Lebanon (12-8) faces top seed John Battle.
“Battle is a good ball team. We just have to go down there and play the best we can,” Adams said. “When we come to play, we have a good team. We just don’t do it everyday.”
Lee High 000 01—1 3 2
Lebanon 743 0x—14 12 0
Mullins, Newman (2) and Lewis. Compton and Castle. W—Compton (6-2). L—Mullins (1-4). HR—Smith (L), 3rd, one on.
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