remain unbeaten in Area 4 play

By STEVEN G. WATSON

Sports Editor

The Charles Henderson High School Trojans baseball team won an important decision over a scrappy Eufaula team Friday to improve to 20-8 overall, but more importantly 2-0 in Class 5A Area 4 play.

It was anything but easy for the Trojans who had to score four runs in the fourth and hold off a seventh-inning rally by EHS to score the 7-6 win.

"It was a really well played high school baseball game all around," CHHS head coach Steve Garrett said. "They gave us all we wanted and there was only one error in the ball game. Everyone earned what they got in this game."

Eufaula jumped out to a 1-0 lead after the first inning, but the Trojans battled back for their first lead in the second inning.

CHHS got a lead-off single by Will Jones in the top of the second then got their first points on an RBI single by Kevin Stephens that scored Jones. Stetson then grounded to second allowing Stephens to score and CHHS went up 2-1.

Eufaula got a lead-off solo home run in their half of the second then scored two runs off three hits in the third to go back up 4-2 on Trojan starting pitcher Jonathan Neeley.

Then Charles Henderson broke out the bats.

What turned out to be the only error of the game put the lead off man on to start the fourth, flowed into four straight hits by the Trojans.

Clint Pugh, Stephens, Jones and Jared Kelly all came through in the pinch for CHHS and gave the lead back to the Trojans by the count of 6-4.

EHS scored one in the fifth, as did Charles Henderson in the second on a Jason Barron single. Then Kevin Stephens, pitching in relief, was able to strike out two in the final inning before an RBI single pulled Eufaula within one.

Pugh got the last out on a routine ground out to third and end the threat.

Now, Charles Henderson awaits Monday’s big showdown on the road in Ozark against Carroll.

The Eagles (14-4, 2-0 in Area play) recently beat Russell County 12-2 to set up the showdown between Area unbeatens.

Game time is set for 5 p.m. Monday.