Northeast wins division opener over Laurel

By Staff
From staff reports
March 7, 2001
Northeast Lauderdale opened division baseball play with a 5-1 win over Laurel on Tuesday.
Other area winners in Tuesday's baseball action were Central Academy, Lake, and Heidelberg Academy.
Northeast Lauderdale 5, Laurel 1: Will Matlock (2-1) tossed a complete game as the Trojans got the Division 5-4A win at Laurel. Matlock struck out eight and allowed five hits.
Phillip Garrett went 3-for-4 for Northeast which improved to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the division.
Northeast hosts West Jones Thursday at 7 p.m.
Central Academy 13-8, Victory Christian 0-1: Tyler Huerkamp and Justin Barlow both tossed one hitters as Central swept Victory Christian.
In the 41/2 inning opener, Huerkamp (1-0) struck out three and went 2-for-2 at the plate. Powell went 3-for-3 with a double. Chris Rushing went 2-for-2 with a double and a home run. Ken Hailey went 2-for-2 with a double.
In the second game, Barlow (1-0) also allowed only one hit.
The Vikings were led by Powell who went 2-for-2 with a double. Cameron Triplett added a double as Central improved to 3-1.
Lake 14, St. Joseph 5: The defending Class 1A state champion Hornets improved to 5-2 with their win over the Bruins.
Craig Martin got the win to improve to 3-0.
At the plate, Martin had three hits and two RBI. Brian Williamson had three hits and four RBI.
Lee Dooley had three hits including a double to drive in three runs. Jake Nester had two hits.
Lake faces Puckett in a Division 6-1A game Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Hunter Blanks took the loss.
Heidelberg Academy 10, Prentiss Christian 0: The Rebels scored three runs in the first, second, and fifth innings in beating the Saints in their season opener.
Matt Culberson struck out six in getting the win, while Scott McInnis fanned three in relief.
Heidelberg had nine hits. Derek McKee had two singles and stole four bases. McInnis also had two hits and four steals. Heath Ainsworth scored three runs. Matthew Andrews had a double.
Prentiss Christian fell to 0-2.
Softball
The defending Class 1A/2A/3A state champion Lady Cougars of Newton County improved to 5-0 with a 16-2 division win over Enterprise in fast-pitch softball action on Tuesday.
April Bufkin (2-0) turned in a masterful game on the mound, striking out 12 in a no-hitter.
Newton County had 13 hits and committed only one error. Enterprise was errorless in the field.
Betsy Clark led the Lady Cougars at the plate, getting three hits including a triple. Stephanie Airhart went 3-for-3. Jennifer Williamson had two hits including a double. Shelly Ferguson also had two hits.
Charly Speed took the loss.
Newton County returns to action Thursday afternoon at Union.