Late rally lifts Bobcats past Russellville

By Staff
Mike Self FCT Sports Editor
FLORENCE - Griffin Harris allowed just four hits in a complete game, and Steven Lacey's two-run single capped a late rally by Phil Campbell on Wednesday as the Bobcats defeated Russellville 4-2 in the TimesDaily Classic at University Field.
Jacey Wilson held Phil Campbell (11-5) to just one run on five hits through six innings, but the Bobcats rallied for three runs on four hits in the top of the seventh to earn bragging rights against their county rivals to the north.
"We like to beat Russellville," said senior shortstop Aaron Voyles, who went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases and two runs scored. "There's always a little more excitement when we face them, especially since we hadn't played them in three years."
Russellville was just two outs away from a win when Voyles singled to spark Phil Campbell's seventh-inning rally.
Nick Woods made a nice play on a fly ball to left by Harris for the second out, but Voyles swiped second to put the tying run in scoring position.
Randy Cochran then hit a bouncer to short, where Cory Trapp was forced to attempt a barehanded play on the slowly-hit ball.
Trapp bobbled the ball but recovered in time to throw to third, where Voyles had rounded the bag a bit too far.
Voyles dove back in and was called safe on a bang-bang play, keeping the inning alive.
Russellville coach Steve Kerby came out to argue the call, to no avail.
Kevin Lacey's RBI single tied the game, and Eric Glasgow walked to load the bases.
Steven Lacey then poked an opposite-field, two-run single to left to give the Bobcats a 4-2 lead.
"The last time Steven batted he had lined a double to right-center, so I don't think they were going to give him anything to pull," Phil Campbell coach Michael Beck said. "He did a nice job of staying on the pitch and going the other way with it."
Lacey said he didn't necessarily go up to the plate with the intent of hitting to the opposite field.
"The pitch just happened to be outside, and coach always tells us to hit it where it's pitched," said Lacey, who helped seal the win with a diving stab of Caleb Mitchell's soft liner to second in the bottom of the seventh.
The Golden Tigers were visibly upset by the close call on Voyles at third that would have ended the game, and Wilson was ejected by the field umpire after giving up the go-ahead single to Lacey.
"Jacey was fussing at himself, and the umpire thought he was talking to him," Kerby said. "I hate it for Jacey, because he's the nicest kid you'll ever meet. He's got two of the best parents in the world, and he's a tremendous character kid. It's a shame that it worked out the way it did."
Wilson ended up allowing four runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out three and walking four. The sophomore righthander was good, but Harris out-dueled him in the end.
Phil Campbell's junior lefty struck out six and walked just two, allowing only a pair of unearned runs in the fourth inning.
Harris, who threw 141 pitches last week in a win over Cherokee, was much more efficient on Wednesday. He needed just 82 pitches to go the distance against Russellville.
"Griffin pitched much better today," Beck said. "He had really good command. I think he's starting to understand that with the way he throws, all he has to do is hit his spots and let them hit it. Our defense did a good job of making the plays behind him."
Harris said the gameplan against the Golden Tigers was no different than any other opponent–pitch away, away, away.
"That's what I try to do every game," he said. "Keep the ball on the outside part of the plate. I just try to throw strikes and hit my spots, and hopefully everything else will take care of itself."
Phil Campbell jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Voyles singled, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout by Harris.
Wilson put up zeroes for the next five frames before the Bobcats rallied in their final at bat.
"Jacey pitched well today, and we had some guys make some good plays behind him," Kerby said. "We're getting better, but we're still letting what happens on one play affect us on the next play and the next. That's something we'll learn with maturity."
Russellville took the lead with two runs in the fourth. Singles by Mitchell and Trapp put runners at the corners, and Mitchell scored on a throwing error to tie the game.
Trapp later scored on a passed ball to make it 2-1.
Trapp finished 2-for-2, and Chris Swinney added a double for Russellville.
Harris, Cochran, Thomas and Kevin Lacey each had one hit for Phil Campbell.
"Hopefully this will give us some momentum going into a big area series [with Colbert Heights[ next week," Beck said.
In other action at the TimesDaily Classic:
Springville 10 Phil Campbell 3
Jacob Taylor's three-run homer highlighted a seven-run second inning for Springville on Wednesday.
Griffin Harris had a two-run single and Randy Cochran added an RBI groundout as the Bobcats took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first.
The Tigers took advantage of three Phil Campbell errors in the second inning.
Aaron Voyles finished with two hits for the Bobcats.
Lee Sasser earned the win for Springville, striking out six in a complete game three-hitter.
Jonathan Dill took the loss for Phil Campbell.