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Big innings lift Lions over Blue Jays

Thursday, 10 April 2008

LEESBURG — Controlling the first three innings behind big-time hitting and consistant pitching, the Fairfield Lions downed the Ripley Blue Jays 18-8 on Tuesday night in Southern Hills League action.

Gaining the victory for the Lions was Ryan Lawwell. The senior hurler pitched three innings, allowing no runs, two hits, while finishing with three strikeouts.

The Lions jumped the gate quickly against the Blue Jays, as Tim Seitz led off the botton of first inning with a double. Seitz's double was followed with a single by Ian Adams, giving the Lions two runners with no outs.

The Lions hit the board first, as Seitz scored on a throwing error at first by the Blue Jays. Lawwell helped his own cause, hitting a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Adams. Senior Bryce Morris added to the Fairfield lead, singling in Jacob Alexander, who reached base on an error. The final run of the inning came as Jon Manson singled in Morris, giving the Lions a 4-0 lead.

In the bottom part of the second inning, Alexander doubled to score Bobby Wilson, who reached base with a lead-off single. Alexander was knocked in during the next at-bat, as Lawwell singled in the senior catcher.

After Lawwell scored on a balk by Ripley, Morris, who hit a single in the previous at-bat, was scored by Manson.

In the bottom of the third, the Lions increased their lead to 9-0, as the Blue Jays committed four consecutive walks, scoring Wilson.

The Lions scored four more runs in the third, as Seitz, Alexander, Lawwell and Morris crossed home plate for runs.

In the fourth inning, the Blue Jays rallied back scoring eight runs, as they batted 13 times in the inning. Six runs (five earned) were charged to freshman Nathaniel Miller. Morris came in to relieve Miller, who allowed two runs (none earned) on one hit, striking out one batter.

With a 13-8 lead starting off the bottom part of the fourth, the Lions gained another three runs with Seitz, Adams and Alexander scoring.

Seitz went to the mound in the top of the fifth, striking out two, while allowing one hit.

In the fifth and final inning, Brandon Carmean and Seitz scored the final runs for Fairfield.

Leading hitter for the Lions were Seitz, who finished 3-for-4, scoring three runs, with one RBI. Alexander finished 2-for-3, with two walks, four runs and two RBIs. Lawwell finished with four RBIs, while Morris went 3-for-3 with three runs and three RBIs.

The win improves the Lions to 3-0 overall, 3-0 in the SHL.

The Lions will face Manchester at Manchester today at 5 p.m. in SHL action.

SUMMARY:

RHS - 000 80 - 8 8 2

FHS - 445 32 - 18 14 4