Published: March 27, 2008 01:29 pm            

Jackets knock off defending region champs

By Les Dixon / Sports Editor

Williamsburg’s J.T. Shelley turned in a stellar performance during the Yellow Jackets’ 10-3 win against defending 13th Region champion North Laurel.

The Yellow Jackets (1-0) jumped out to a 4-3 lead before using a six-run seventh inning to put the game away.

“We’re just a young team right now,” North Laurel coach Darren McWhorter said. “We have four seniors returning from last year’s team and no one else has any varsity experience.

“We’re going to go through some growing pains and we know that,” he added. “We’re just going to have to play through them.”

After a slow start, Shelley settled down and allowed only three runs the entire game.

He finished the game with nine strikeouts.

“We made a lot of mistakes, but it is early in the season,” Williamsburg coach Don Stricklin said. “It was surprising to see J.T. pitch a complete game this early in the season, but he got the outs when he needed them.”

The Jaguars were their own worst enemy during the first two innings by stranding six runners on base.

“We left too many people on base and we just couldn’t get any big hits when we needed them,” McWhorter said. “You have to give credit to Williamsburg, they made the plays when they needed to.”

Both teams scored a run in the first inning, but the Yellow Jackets added a run apiece in the second and third innings to take a 3-1 edge.

North Laurel tied the game at three apiece with a two-run third inning, but the Yellow Jackets put the game away in the seventh.

“We came into the game wanting to give ourselves a chance to win and we only trailed by one run in the seventh inning,” McWhorter said. “But then they scored six runs and that was it.

“The wheels fell off,” he added. “We had our chances, but we just couldn’t come back.”

Mark Comparoni delivered the seventh innings biggest hit — a two-run single — which allowed the Yellow Jackets to put the game away.

Comparoni went 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs, while teammate Brandon Conlin delivered three hits.

“In the seventh inning, we got some breaks and were able to put the game away,” Stricklin said. “Mark’s two-run single gave us some breathing room.”

The Yellow Jackets will be back in action today at home against Lynn Camp, while North Laurel will host Knox Central.



Williamsburg 10, North Laurel 3

Williamsburg 111 001 6 10 17 1

North Laurel 100 020 0 3 4 3

WP - Shelley. LP - Allen.

        

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