West Lauderdale improves to 6-0 in 5-3A

By By Robby Atkinson/staff writer
March 14, 2004
COLLINSVILLE Cory Hart and Rickey Gardner combined for a one-hit shutout of Carthage on Saturday night to take a 10-0 win over the Tigers to improve to 6-0 in Division 5-3A play.
The Knights (13-0) collected nine hits in the game, but head coach Jerry Boatner was still pleased with the effort his offense showed in the 10-run win.
The Knights got off to a fast start with three runs in the bottom of the first for a 3-0 lead. Shortstop Bo Davis got the inning started with a triple off the wall in left field to set up the first score of the night.
David Woods drove in Davis with a single to left. Woods collected a stolen base moments later, and it paid off as Jay Warren brought Woods home on a double to right-center field for a 2-0 advantage.
The third run of the first crossed the plate on a single by Tyler Vick, and that was all the run support Hart needed in the contest. The West pitcher worked three innings, allowing one hit and striking out four.
Gardner was impossible to hit on this night, as the freshman worked the final two innings without allowing a hit and striking out two.
West Lauderdale picked up a run in the third, as Warren reached on a walk and later scored on a wild pitch to give the Knights a 4-0 lead.
West Lauderdale ended the night with six runs in the fifth inning. Warren led off the fifth with a single, and Vick followed with a home run over the left-center field wall for a 6-0 advantage.
Two more runs scored in the inning off a single from Drew Snider, and the final runs scored on errors by the Carthage infield to give the Knights a win.
West Lauderdale will play in the Hattiesburg tournament on Monday against Northwest Rankin at noon. The Knights defeated Northwest Rankin 7-6 earlier this season.
West Lauderdale 22
Union 2
The Knights score 19 runs in the first two innings to take a non-divisional win on the road Saturday afternoon.
The day was highlighted by six home runs from West Lauderdale. Davis led the way with a pair of home runs and finished the game with four RBIs. Vick hit a home run for the Knights in the first inning and ended the afternoon with four RBIs.
Warren and Parker Temple also added a home run apiece in the road victory.