HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL: Honaker hammers Haysi for tournament title

BY ANTHONY STEVENS

SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

HONAKER — In Thursday’s championship game of the inaugural New Peoples Bank Spring Classic, Honaker posted a 14-4 win over rival Haysi .

Honaker took control in the bottom of the second inning, sending 10 men to the plate with two outs and taking a 6-0 lead. Aaron Whited and Kevin Lester had key hits in the inning, while the Tigers were also aided by some Haysi errors.

"I told Justin [Blair], my pitcher that he could keep his head up," Haysi coach Dwayne Stanley said. "He pitched a lot better than the score showed. We threw the ball here, there and before you know what happened you’re in a big inning. That’s what happened.

"We’re inexperienced and are going to have to learn how to deal with things like that. But we showed a little at the end coming back to score."

Honaker starting pitcher Logan Ball dominated the Haysi lineup through the first four innings with eight strikeouts and no hits allowed, but he yielded four runs in the top of the fifth inning.

Haysi’s Nick Stanley had the first hit for Haysi, a solid single to right. Tyler Mullins reached on an infield single and then Joe Yates added a two-run single.

Before it was over, Haysi (4-1) had four straight hits and four runs on the scoreboard to extend the game. Freshman Cory Brown came in and notched a strikeout to end the inning.

Honaker (4-0) committed three errors through the first three innings. However, that was overshadowed by an offense that pounded out 14 hits on Thursday and scored 43 runs in three tournament games.

Lester and Ball each had three hits. Whited and Adam Honaker had two hits each

"I’m still worried about our defense, we’re just not doing the things we need to be doing," Honaker coach Tom Harding said. "We have done a good job at the plate, I can’t gripe about that, but it seems like we can’t make the routine play in the field."

Patrick Henry 20, St. Paul 0

The outcome was never in question in the third-place game as Patrick Henry cruised past St. Paul. Everyone in the PH starting lineup got a hit as the Rebels banged out 17 hits and connected for two home runs. Marcus Montgomery hit a three-run blast in the second inning, which was followed by Joe Canter’s solo homer

"The pitch was middle-in, where I like the ball," Canter said. "I immediately knew it was gone. Our whole lineup is solid, one through nine, everyone can hit the ball."

It was an eventful day for Canter. He went 3-for-3 and had two doubles in addition to his homer, driving in five runs. Montgomery (2-for-3, four RBIs), Cody Foglesong (two doubles, three runs), Jared Hamm (two hits, four RBIs) also had big days. The first five batters in the Patrick Henry batting order combined for 15 runs, 11 hits and 13 RBIs.

"All those guys have power and make contact," PH coach Jon Boyd said. "They are all fast, good athletes and have done a great job for us."

Ronnie Groves won his first start of the season, striking out seven and allowing one hit over four innings.

Corey Ellis’ infield single was the only hit St. Paul (1-4) managed on the day.

"We jumped out early and with Groves on the mound, we’re capable of beating anyone," Boyd said. "We feel good about him. He’s throwing strikes, if he can stay healthy we can play with anyone."

Holston 12, Clintwood 7

Lewis Hand was the winning pitcher for Holston as the Cavaliers claimed fifth place.

Josh Carrier and Jeffrey Bramlett each scored two runs for Holston, while Clintwood’s Russell Hull homered and drove in four runs. J.T. Fleming also homered in the loss.

Twin Valley 11, Pound 7

Jacob St. Clair went six innings on the mound to get the win and also had a home run and three RBIs as Twin Valley won the seventh-place game

Ryan Branham homered twice for Pound.