Vina gets area sweep of Tharptown

By Bart Moss for the FCT

The Vina Red Devils earned an area sweep of the Tharptown Wildcats last week, piling up 20 runs in two games against a very young Wildcat team. Vina faltered against the Cherokee Indians with three late inning fielding errors that proved costly.

Vina 13, Tharptown 0

James Barnes continued his impressive run on the mound for the Vina Red Devils, pitching a perfect game to lead his team to a 13-0 shutout of the Tharptown Wildcats last week in area competition.

Barnes pitched the complete game, striking out 12 batters. He also led the Red Devils at the plate with one hit, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Vina scored six runs in the first inning and seven runs in the second inning and cruised to the easy win.

All Vina starters scored at least one run. Austin Harper had two hits, three RBIs and two runs scored.

Tyler Renfrow scored two runs. Justin Gravitt had two hits. Austin Childers had two RBIs.

Vina 7, Tharptown 0

Gravitt and Harper combined to pitch a one hit shutout of the Tharptown Wildcats, winning 7-0. Gravitt pitched five and a third innings giving up one hit, five walks and striking out 11 Tharptown batters.

Vina scored one run in the first inning, when Gravitt scored on a double to right field by Childers. The Red Devils scored five runs in the second inning, effectively putting the game away. They picked up one more run in the fourth inning.

Childers had two hits and two RBIs in the game. Gravitt scored two runs for the Red Devils.

Barnes, Renfrow and Childers all had doubles in the game.

Cherokee 4, Vina 3

Late inning fielding miscues cost the Vina Red Devils in a 4-3 loss to the Cherokee Indians. Cherokee scored two runs in the sixth inning to come from behind and topple the Red Devils.

Vina battled back to tie the game in the third inning on a double by Andrew Upton scoring Gravitt and Childers. The Red Devils took the lead on the next at bat when Harper singled in Upton.

Cherokee tied the game in the sixth on an error by the Vina right fielder. The Indians took the lead for good on single two at bats later.

Gravitt led Vina with two hits. Upton led with two RBIs and a double. Renfrow took the loss, pitching five innings allowing only two earned runs, walking two and striking out eight.