Cougars take 5-3A win over Tigers
By By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant
March 29, 2003
DECATUR The Newton County Cougars matched their season high with 13 hits Friday night as they defeated Southeast Lauderdale 15-9 in Division 5-3A action.
The win improved the Cougars' overall record to 8-9 and their league mark to 4-4. Southeast dropped to 7-6 and 5-3 as the Tigers had a five-game winning streak snapped.
Newton County also benefited from seven walks and six Southeast errors.
Every Cougar starter had at least one hit with Brandon Ezell, Colby Amis, Jamey Farmer, and Greg Pillsbury each getting two.
Southeast fared well at the plate as the Tigers had 14 hits. Every Tiger starter but one had at least one hit. Brett Harper went 3-for-4, while Tyler
Harper, Larry Fairchild, and Drew Harper each had two.
Both teams scored three runs in the second inning.
Southeast got an RBI double from Brett Harper and an RBI single from Austin Taylor.
Newton County responded with a two-run single from Sam McDill and an RBI single from Pillsbury.
The Cougars pulled away with a five-run third frame. In the inning, Newton County had just two hits, but also received four walks and the Tigers committed a couple of errors. Three wild pitches contributed to the big inning.
The lone hits in the uprising were a two-run single by Will Pearson and a single by Josh Avant to start the inning.
Southeast picked up two runs in the fourth on RBI singles from Tyler Harper and James Pierce.
The Cougars upped their lead to 12-5 with four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Pillsbury and Ezell both had RBI singles. Farmer and Jared Cavenaugh had infield hits in the inning.
The Tigers closed to within 12-8 in the top of the fifth. Brett Harper and Tyler Overby both had RBI singles with a throwing error on a pickoff at second base letting the third run cross the plate.
Newton County added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out fielding error with the bases loaded.
The Cougars struck twice in the sixth with both runs scoring on wild pitches, the second of which came home from second base.
Southeast starter Philip Butler (3-1) took the loss, allowing eight runs on four hits and five walks in 2 2/3 innings. He struck out three.
Tyler Hagan (3-1) got the win, going the distance. Hagan allowed 14 hits and three walks while striking out four. Two double plays aided his effort.
