recovers to beat Opp 6-5

By STEVEN G. WATSON

Sports Editor

The Charles Henderson High School baseball team had a tough weekend at Stanhope Elmore splitting a pair of games.

The Trojans (9-2) fell 9-1 to Stanhope in game one of a double-header, but bounced back to claim a hard-fought 6-5 victory over Opp in the second.

In the first game CHHS saw a tight 1-0 lead give way to a five-run fifth inning by Stanhope highlighted by some key Trojan mistakes. SEHS was helped by a lead-off walk and two straight errors on Charles Henderson and capped the inning off with a two-out, two-run homer.

"In the fifth inning we had total mental and physical breakdown which we can’t have," CHHS head coach Steve Garrett said. "If we’re going to compete for a 5A State title these are the kind of teams that we’ve got to beat. If we can’t give them a better game than that then we’re in trouble."

The Mustangs went on to score four more runs on the day and held the Trojans to only six hits with Kevin Stephens (3-1) being tagged with his loss of the season.

The sole CHHS run was scored on a Roderick Burden single in the top of the fourth after a lead-off single and a two-out base on balls.

Hunter Mathews went 2-for-2 in the game with a double while Chris Boswell had a double and David Taylor and Jared Kelly both had hits as well.

The frustration continued for the Trojans in the second game against Opp as some close calls by the officials took away potential tying run for the Trojans twice during the ball game.

CHHS finally prevailed scoring two runs in the sixth inning with the winning run crossing home after an outstanding at-bat for Mathews where the senior faced full count and fouled four straight pitches off before being walked with the bases loaded.

David Taylor led the Trojans with a 2-for-3 showing while Gralheer, Mathews, Boswell and Clint Pugh all had hits.

Boswell (3-0) notched his third win of the season in only two innings of duty as he held Opp to no hits and no runs in the sixth and seventh innings and retiring the side in order in the seventh.

"It was not a good day," Garrett said. "We wanted to go down there and make a statement that we were a team to contend with in 5A and we didn’t."

Now the Trojans must travel to Dothan and face a team that they swept last year and have already beaten twice this season in a double-header at home in Troy.

The two games were both hard-fought affairs ending in 8-7 and 6-4 wins for CHHS.

"They should be out to get us," Garrett said. "We’re sort of establishing a rivalry there because I know they’re getting sick of getting beat by us, but we don’t want to lose to them either.

"They won their Area last year, but we had a little luck against them so far," he added. "We from behind in both games against them last time we played. Beat them in the last at-bat in the first game and beat them last year like that in the games here. So, I know they are going to be coming after us."

Garrett also says he wouldn’t be surprised if the Trojans saw their number one pitcher that signed with Alabama. The coach says his team seems to be getting everybody’s No. 1 so far this year.

The first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Dothan and will be the final away game for the Trojans before bringing it back to Hogan’s Hole Thursday to face Northview and Wetumpka on Friday.