Dill's 2-run HR sparks PC's 10-0 win over Red Bay

By Staff
Kim West
BELGREEN – Seniors Stephen Lacey and Jonathan Dill notched personal milestones as they led No. 8 Phil Campbell to a 10-0 win over Red Bay in the Franklin County tournament finals Saturday.
Lacey went seven innings with a career-high 15 strikeouts and allowed only Ely Cox and Nathan Hopkins to reach base for the Tigers, while Dill sparked a five-run fifth with a two-run home run, his first since youth league ball.
Neither team could score during the first three innings as Lacey and Red Bay starter Stephen Prestage moved quickly through the batting order. Phil Campbell broke the scoring drought in the top of the fourth as Dillan Hamby drew a walk and scored on a passed ball.
The Bobcats' bats came alive in the fifth as Korey Pounders, who went 3-for-4, hit a single and stole second and third to move into scoring position, and Dill's first-pitch homer over the left field wall brought home Pounders. Dillan Hamby's double up the third base line scored Caleb Thompson, while Jordan Benford stroked a single to center field to bring in Adam Mitchell and Hamby to put Phil Campbell ahead 6-0.
Tate Canida and Pounders each singled and scored in the sixth and Welborn and Canida drove in two more runs in the top of the seventh to go ahead 10-0.
"We weren't hitting very well to start the game but we went up 3-0 after Jonathan Dill's first home run," Phil Campbell coach Michael Beck said. "I thought several guys had good games, and Stephen Lacey is a big-game player who likes getting the ball in these situations – we've got several players that like playing in big games."