ball with six in the sixth

By STEVEN G. WATSON

Sports Editor

Sometimes the short ball wins over the long ball and the Charles Henderson Trojan baseball team can attest to that after Wednesday’s come-from-behind performance against Opp.

With Opp’s Adam Jones sending two solo shots over the fence in left and Brock Johnson notching a 2-run round tripper, the Bobcats were swinging for the fences. But even though the Trojans never left the yard, they did leave with a fantastic 12-9 victory

After falling behind 5-0 to the Bobcats after two innings, the Trojans got something started at the plate in the bottom half of the second with a two-out RBI single by Kevin Stephens. The CHHS speedster eventually scored after stealing second and third then taking advantage of a throwing error to get across home.

He was then joined in the inning by B.J. Gralheer with a single to left to pull the score to 5-3.

The Bobcats got two of the runs back in the third on the two-run shot by Johnson and added another with Jones’ first dinger in the fourth giving them an 8-3 lead to work with.

CHHS scored three more in their half of the third on a Sacrifice bunt by Scott Stetson, a double into the right corner by Jason Barron and another RBI single by Jonathan Neeley.

Opp got it’s final run on the solo shot by Jones in the top of the sixth, but the bottom was about to drop out on OHS starter Brent Mack.

In the sixth the Trojans sent 10 batters to the plate, doubled their score with six runs and belted out six hits in the inning. Once the tap was turned on the Bobcats couldn’t find the off switch.

Gralheer started things off with a lead-off double into the right field corner, where he would eventually score on a single by Barron. Neeley, Boswell followed with singles to load the bases then, with Jarvis Woods pinch-running for Boswell, Charles Henderson took advantage of the lone Opp error in the inning.

After a strike out and hard shot to third puts CHHS behind by only one at 8-9, Stephens hits a little dribbler just past the pitcher then uses his speed to beat out the throw. Never hesitating Woods rounds third while the Opp first baseman bobbles the ball allowing the winning run to cross the plate.

Senior Jarod Kelly sold the Trojans a little insurance with the next at bat scoring two on a single before Opp finally managed to get the third out.

The Trojans held in the top of the seventh to end the game with the tying run at the plate and men on second and third. Will Jones bobbled the ball on a grounder, but was composed enough to get the throw over in time for the out and the big come-from behind win.

The Trojans were led by Barron who went 2-for-3 in the game with a double and Stephens with a 2-for-2 showing.

Senior Hunter Mathews came in for the Trojans in the fifth to pitch two innings and get the win after being out with a fractured wrist. Freshman Justin Sims took over in the seventh to notch the save striking out two of three batters faced.

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The Charles Henderson High School Junior Varsity squad handed the Opp JV their first loss of the season in a 4-1 battle to start Wednesday’s activities.

Facing a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fourth, starting pitcher Pete Vanhorn belted an RBI single to left to untie the score.

He then got some insurance in the bottom of the fifth with a lead-off single by Blake Phelps who would score on an Opp Error. Then Lakory Daniels led off the sixth with a triple and scored on a nice bunt in front of the plate to ice it for the Trojans.

Vanhorn got the complete-game win.