Published: July 21, 2008 10:21 am      

North Laurel drops 4-3 loss in 11 innings

By Jimbo Collins / Staff Writer

Richmond outlasted North Laurel,4-3, Sunday in 11 innings to advance in the winner’s bracket. The game, which was scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m., was initially delayed due to a protest and was further delayed due to rain and lightning.

North Laurel coach Mark Carson said fatigue wasn’t the reason his team lost. Richmond batters collected 11 walks in the game.

“We had the opportunities,” Carson said. “You have got to put it in play. We just didn’t do it when we had our chance there. Fatigue might have had something to do with it, but I hate to use that for an excuse. They were just as tired as we were.

“Walks and errors will kill you,” he added. “It’s just a matter of time and they will catch up with you. The first couple of runs they got early, they really shouldn’t have. Errors and walks will kill you. We swung at some bad pitchers and missed a few walks, but that is just the way it goes.”

Richmond took the lead in the fourth inning by getting three straight hits. A fielder’s choice by Curtis Roberts gave Richmond a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth.

North Laurel rallied for two runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game. Marcus Carson led off the sixth with a stand-up triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by John Nantz. Ethan Eversole and Ryan Shears had back-to-back singles and Jacob Creech walked to load the bases. Eversole scored on a wild pitch to tie the game.

Marcus Carson was 2-for-4 with two stolen bases and was intentionally walked the last two times he went to the plate.

“He’s a good hitter and probably our best hitter,” Coach Carson said. “It is a team game. Somebody else has to step up and that is just part of it. He is just one of the nine, but he is a pretty good player.”

Richmond scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to reclaim the lead, 3-2. Richmond had one hit and three walks in the inning.

North Laurel, down to its final three outs, rallied to tie the game in the top of the seventh inning. Carson hit a one-out single and stole second and third base to set up a sacrifice fly by Nantz to tie the game at 3-3.

Richmond had a chance to end the game in the bottom of the ninth inning when Tommy Crump singled and stole second base with one out. Crump attempted to steal third, but was thrown out by North Laurel’s Shears, who moved to catcher when starting catcher Ethan Eversole took the mound. Richmond’s Michael Everett walked and was thrown out trying to steal second to end the inning.

“That was big there, because it could have been over there in that inning,” Coach Carson said. “He made two good throws and helped us get out of that inning. That was good for him. He has had a sore knee, but he gutted it out and threw two runners out and that was pretty big at the time.”

Richmond’s Kelly Daniels, who was 1-for-4, reached on an error to begin the bottom of the eleventh inning. Daniels advanced to second on passed ball and took third base on a wild pitch. Julius Speaks hit a ground ball that scored Daniels to end the game and send North Laurel to the loser’s bracket.

North Laurel will play Belfry today at 7:30 p.m. at South Laurel High School.



Richmond 4, North Laurel 3

North Laurel 000 002 100 00 — 3 7 2

Richmond 000 201 000 01 — 4 6 0

WP - Lakes. LP - Miller