Carthage takes win over Southeast
By By Tony Krausz/assistant sports editor
April 5, 2003
The Carthage High School baseball team won the battle of the Tigers at Southeast Lauderdale High School's apply named Tiger Field Friday night.
Carthage (13-6) pounced on Southeast (7-8) early and held its ground en route to a 9-1 win.
Carthage center fielder Ricardo Smith tallied the visiting Tigers' first runs of the game in the opening inning.
The junior Carthage Tiger powered a three-run homer over the wall, with two outs, for an early 3-0 lead.
Southeast found itself in trouble again in the second inning, after retiring the first two Carthage batters.
Carthage puts two runners on the base path, and designated hitter John Fortenberry smacked a two-run double for a 5-0 lead.
Southeast settled down after the first two innings, and the homestanding Tigers sent Carthage down in order in the fourth through sixth innings.
Unfortunately, the fast-paced contest also meant that Southeast generated little offense in its half of the innings.
Carthage starting pitcher Daniel Holleyman, who picked up the complete-game victory, got the first nine batters he faced out in order.
Southeast leadoff hitter Chris Butler finally got on base in the bottom of the fourth inning with a single.
The freshman center fielder made his way around the base path stealing second and advancing to third on an error.
Butler tallied Southeast's lone run of the game scoring on a wild pitch.
Carthage went back to work at the plate in the top of the seventh inning.
The visiting tallied four runs in the final inning to put the game out of reach.
Carthage second baseman Caleb Cochran started the seventh-inning rally with an RBI ground out to first base, and shortstop Tyler Blocker brought in another run with a fielder's choice hit to drive in Kevin Hatch.
Smith drove in the final two runs with a single to right field.
Southeast third baseman Tyler Harper led off the bottom of the seventh with a single to left field, but Carthage erased Harper's threat getting a double play on the next hitter.
Southeast shortstop Clay McGree hit a grounder to Cochran at second. Carthage's middle infielder tagged Harper in the base path and threw McGree out at first.
