By Staff
Nick Johnston, Hartselle Enquirer
WEST POINT – The fourth and fifth innings of Monday afternoon's game was a nightmare for Jay Stanley.
With the score tied at 4-all, the Danville head coach could only watch as his team allowed five runs in the two innings, and eventually fell to West Point 9-6.
Danville has started its season with a 2-4 record (as of Monday), and will play Lawrence County Friday. The Hawks' next home game is Monday, March 17 against West Limestone.
West Point 9, Danville 6
Monday
Danville led 2-0 before giving up four runs in the bottom of the third inning.
The Hawks went up 1-0 in the first, as Dustin Terry scored on an error. Craig Poole scored an unearned run for Danville in the second for the 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, however, starting pitcher Thomas Hopkins began to struggle. West Point's Michael Jones led off the third with a double to the fence and later scored. After Hopkins allowed a walk to fill the bases, Seth Ward had a check-swing single to score Josh Drummond. Ben Swann then doubled home two runs, as the Warriors led 4-2.
Danville evened the score in the fourth with two more runs. Matt Lindsey ripped a double to the wall to lead off and later scored on a throwing error. With Bryan Johnson at third, Justin Moore doubled, making the score 4-all.
West Point scored three runs in the fourth and two in the fifth as pitching began to break down. In the fifth, Adam Cochran entered to pitch for the Hawks.
See HAWKS, B-4
He lasted just one-third of an inning and was responsible for both runs.
Dexter Wimberly went to the mound for the remainder of the game after Cochran was pulled. Wimberly was not responsible for a run.
Wimberly helped his own cause by singling in the sixth. He scored on an error later in the inning, as did Hopkins. The two runs made what proved to be the final score.
Hopkins suffered the loss for Danville.
Danville 6
Winston County 0
Saturday
Matt Lindsey pitched five innings and allowed just two hits in the shutout effort. He had eight strikeouts.
Nate Orr had two doubles and Cory Weaver added a pair of singles. Hopkins finished the day with two RBIs.
Lawrence County 8
Danville 7
Last Wednesday
Lawrence County needed two extra innings to defeat Danville in the ninth.
Hopkins pitched four innings, giving up two earned runs, while Matt Young pitched four innings and gave up only one earned run.
Hopkins and Terry both had two hits for Danville.
Colbert County
Invitational Results
Colbert County 10
Danville 0
Last Monday
Stanley claimed Colbert County's offense and defense was "just too strong" in the 10-0 loss.
Hopkins and Weaver had Danville's only two hits.
Johnson and Garner combined on the mound.
Danville 15, Hazelwood 0
Last Monday
The Hawks began their season with a 15-0 thrashing of Hazelwood.
Danville did not allow a hit behind the efforts of Lindsey and Terry.
Lindsey pitched three innings and struck out eight, while Terry pitched two innings and punched out three, as Danville won in five innings.
Cochran went 3 for 3, Joe Thomas was 2 for 3, while Terry helped his own cause from the mound with two RBIs.