Red Bay falls to Clements 2-0

By Staff
Scot Beard
RED BAY – The Red Bay varsity boys baseball team found success on the bases early as its first two batters quickly reached scoring position Thursday against Clements.
Unfortunately, Colts' pitcher Isaac Eaton found his rhythm and struck out the next three batters to get out of the jam. Eaton would go on to record at least two strikeouts in every inning except the fifth, piling up 17 total strikeouts – two shy of tying the state record – during Clements 2-0 win.
Despite Eaton's impressive performance, the Red Bay pitching staff had a strong outing also.
Starter Chase Lindsey and reliever Cody Armstrong combined to strike out six Clements batters while allowing six hits and issuing five walks.
Phillip Armstrong led off the game for Red Bay by drawing a walk and advancing to second when Kevin Hastings drew another walk. Both runners moved ahead on the bases on a pass ball before Eaton settled down.
After the first two Tiger batters of the second inning struck out, Zach Hubbard singled, but Matt Montgomery grounded out to end the inning.
In the third, Hastings reached base on a dropped third strike and stole second, but the next two batters struck out to end the threat.
In both the fourth and fifth innings, a Tiger batter reached base after drawing a walk only to be thrown out as they attempted to steal second.
Clements also struggled to get runners across the plate in the early innings, stranding several runners on third base. Lamac Askins singled in the fifth and moved to second on a pass ball before Eaton hit an RBI-double to left field to give the Colts a 1-0 lead. They added to their lead in the seventh when Jess McElyea singled and advanced on a wild pitch before Eaton doubled again to drive him home.
Eli Cox doubled to lead the Tiger offense while Hubbard had Red Bay's only other hit – a single.
Phillip Armstrong drew a pair of walks while Hastings, Bradley Patterson and Thorne drew one walk each.