‘One bad inning’ spoils PCHS’ upset bid of Zion Chapel

Published 9:58 pm Tuesday, March 25, 2014

In nearly every game this season, Pike County has gone toe-to-toe with their opponent for four innings.

Tuesday’s match up against Zion Chapel was no different.

The Bulldogs and Rebels were tied at one entering the bottom of the fifth inning, but Zion Chapel scored six runs in the inning to take control of the game.

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Zion would add four more runs in the sixth to close the game early with an 11-1 win.

“We have got in this bad habit of playing well for four innings, and then losing our heads,” said Pike County head coach Jim Bedsole. “One bad thing happens, then two and it begins to snowball. Our kids have to stop accepting it and laying down and rolling over. We are better than what we are playing.”

Zion Chapel scored first, on a wild pitch in the bottom of the second, and carried the 1-0 lead to the fifth,

Pike County tied the game on a single by Kyle Lewis that brought home Michael Bonner.

The Bulldogs would have a tough go of it from there, as the Rebels took advantage of three Pike County errors in the bottom of the fifth to put the game away.

Zion Chapel head coach Lucas Davis liked what he saw from his players later in the game.

“We were very fortunate to score the runs we did score, because came out here today and got after it,” Davis said. “It took us a couple of times through the lineup to get the bats going, because their pitcher did a great job of keeping us off balance. Our guys made adjustments at the plate, and I am super proud of them.”

Pike County travels to Dothan on Friday for a split double header against Dothan and Houston Academy.

Zion will not play again until April 3 when it travels to play arch rival New Brockton.