By Doug Ponton
Junior Third baseman Kevin Kronander tags second and makes the throw to first for a double play.
Not unlike the train that chugged its way down the track in the cool evening air, the Louisa Lions baseball squad serenely and composedly steamrolled their opponent, the Western Albemarle Warriors 6-1 this past Tuesday evening to bring an abrupt end to their three-game losing streak.
Using a six-run second-inning outburst, aided by a couple of errant Warrior pick-off attempts, Louisa (4-6) bankrolled four hits and a couple of walks to thwart any idea of Western Albemarle coming into Mineral and stealing a victory.
After a lead-off walk in the home-half of the second by senior Jarrett Talley, a line single into right field from Zach Jackson put runners on first and second base with no-one down. A sacrifice bunt from catcher Aaron Guill moved his teammates into scoring position for Josh Carter to drive across the first two runs of the game with a hard scramble double.
Sophomore pitcher Christian Buckler toiled five strong innings, scattering four hits and taking down three Western Albemarle batters along the way. Relieving in top of the sixth inning, senior Josh Seay continued the night’s dominant pitching performance by putting down a pair of Warrior hitters to end the contest while only giving up a lone single.
“Christian [Buckler] did a great job holding them in check and Josh [Seay] was just as good in relief,” said Lions head coach Kevin Fisher. “I don’t think either one of them delivered a walk tonight.”
After a wild pick-off attempt from Warrior pitcher Parker Morris, Jacob Conley–who had previously been issued a walk by Morris–and Carter moved up the base-paths to second and third respectively. Sophomore first baseman Alex Fletcher contributed another double that helped provide four additional runs in the second inning giving Louisa a commanding 6-1 that was never in jeopardy the remainder of the evening.
Leading Louisa at the plate, senior Josh Carter went 2 for 3 with a run scored and two RBIs while Talley, Jackson, Conley, Seay and Fletcher all scored. Sophomore Christian Buckler allowed one run while striking out three Warrior batters in five innings while Josh Seay shut down two Western hitters with only one hit given up in two innings of relief.
Louisa is next at home on Friday, April 20th for a District contest against Powhatan High School with first-pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
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