Trojans defeat Mustangs

By Staff
IN THE DIRT – West Jones' Wes Chancellor can't stop Northeast's Stephen Dyess at third. PHOTO BY CARISA MCCAIN.
By Ryan Satcher/staff writer
April 6, 2002
Drew Anderson pitched a complete game and allowed only four hits while striking out nine batters to lead Northeast Lauderdale over West Jones 4-2 in baseball action Friday night.
Anderson also hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth to help the Trojans take a big district win over the Mustangs.
After Anderson and Mustang pitcher Jonathan Blakeney held the offenses scoreless for the first two innings, West Jones put the first run on the board in the top of the third thanks to some Trojan errors.
Joseph Dobbs started the inning with a single. With Mike Hamilton up to bat, Dobbs broke for second on a hit-and-run. Hamilton blooped a single into centerfield and Dobbs moved for third. The throw in from center to third base was off and went to the fence behind third allowing Dobbs to score. Hamilton was able to move all the way to third during the play.
Northeast made a good defensive play to get Hamilton out when the next batter bunted the ball, but with two outs the Mustangs had runners at first and second. Trey Sutton sent a hard-hit ball to left, but leftfielder Ryan Stewart made a great diving catch to get the Trojans out of the inning trailing by only one run.
Northeast got the run back in the bottom of the third when the West Jones defense fell apart. Stephen Dyess reached on an error. The Chad Brunson reached on another error on the Mustangs. After a sacrifice bunt. Dyess scored when Cory Chance hit a grounder to second that was mishandled. Chance was able to reach on the error. Anderson followed a weak grounder to the pitcher. The throw to first was dropped by the first baseman to load the bases with only one out. Blakeney worked out of the jam by getting a fielder's choice and ground out and the score was 1-1 after three innings.
The Mustangs once again took the lead in the top of the fifth. Hamilton lead off with a single. He stole second base to get into scoring position and later moved to third on a wild pitch. With two outs and two strikes on the batter, a passed ball allowed Hamilton to score and make the score 2-1.
The Trojans once again answered in the bottom of the fifth. Brunson lead off with a double off the glove of the sliding rightfielder. Chance walked to bring Anderson up with two on base. Anderson took a Blakeney pitch to left for a three-run homer to get the lead for the Trojans 4-2.
Anderson came out and sat down the Mustangs in order in the last two innings. He struck out three of the six batters and Northeast held on for an important district win, 4-2.
The district game at Magee today will begin at 12 p.m. with the JV game to follow. The Trojans will also play at Raleigh tonight. Northeast improves to 12-15 on the year and 6-3 in the district.