FAIRMONT — With wet weather on the horizon, the Fairmont baseball team moved its Three Rivers Conference nightcap with South Columbus ahead of the oncoming precipitation.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, with the score knotted, sophomore infielder Quentin Hunt rounded third, hurdled over the waiting Stallions catcher at home and stuck the landing to beat the rain, and the visiting team, 6-5.
Golden Tornadoes (2-2, 2-2 TRC) coach Sandy Thorndyke said the aggressive decision was premeditated due to the threatening weather that awaited.
“We knew if the ball reached the outfield grass we were going to try to score,” Thorndyke said. “We were going to try to end this game and try to get out of the thunder and lightning that was coming.”
“I stayed on [Hunt] all night…he scored the winning run for us. Hey, that’s what it’s all about; a lot of hustle.”
Hunt admits that he never tried that in a game before, but with the ball already in the catcher’s glove at home, down two outs, he knew something extraordinary was needed to close out the win.
“When I rounded third, I had already made my mind up…I was gon’ hurdle him,” Hunt said. “It’s just instincts.”
Before Hunt’s late heroics, freshmen utility man Cameron Hodge laced a ground ball between third and short that freed his teammate leaning off second base. Coming into the matchup, Hodge was one the team’s leading hitters through three games.
“Cam is one of the hottest sticks on the team right now,” Hunt said. “I had faith in him. I knew he was going to drive me in.”
In addition to the game-winning, RBI, Hodge collected two runs in back-to-back innings helping the Golden Tornadoes take a 5-2 lead at the end of the fourth.
Fellow freshman Colby Thorndyke added two hits, an RBI and also scored in the fourth. Thorndyke served as the starting pitcher, lasting a solid seven innings, giving up five hits and four runs.
Sandy Thorndyke said he has faith in his underclassmen because most of them have been playing baseball since “six or seven years old.”
South Columbus (0-4, 0-4 TRC) catcher Tate Lee had a team-high three hits, two runs and a stolen base. He powered a comeback as Stallions drew within one run, 5-4, in the fifth inning. Eithan Kennedy’s RBI double in the top of the seventh tied it at 5.
“In practice [coaches] always say, ‘Battle back, and hard work,’ so we just had to show heart just to come back and win the game,” Hunt said.
Fairmont travels to Red Springs for an in-county matchup on Tuesday.
On the softball diamond, the Lady Tornadoes gave up seven runs in the first inning en route to a 18-2 loss to South Columbus at home Friday.
McKenzie Johnson and Santana Anderson scored the Lady Tornadoes (0-4, 0-4 TRC) two runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Britt’s no-hitter lifts Lumberton
LUMBERTON — While the phrase Morgan Britt has heard early this season is her pitching being back on her “sophomore year form,” the Lumberton senior wants to prove that she can be better than the standout season she had two years ago.
“It would be great to go out better than my sophomore year. I’m really focusing on trying to hit my spots and let my defense work behind me,” Britt said.
Britt has already matched her career total of no-hitters, something she didn’t post during her sophomore year, after holding Jack Britt hitless in a 3-1 win at home on Friday.
Britt struck out six in her no-hit performance as her defense worked behind her and her offense posted runs in the first, fifth and sixth innings.
“My defense did work really good behind me. I didn’t have as many strikeouts as I wanted to, but a no-hitter’s good too,” Britt said.
After giving up three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning at Jack Britt earlier this week in a 4-3 loss, Britt said that a win like Friday’s was one to savor.
“They are a really good offensive team. To throw a no-hitter against them, it makes me feel like I’m back,” Britt said.
Lumberton (3-3, 2-2 SAC) posted eight hits in the win over the Lady Bucs, with Kasey West and Rachel O’Neil each tallying a pair of hits each. Madison Canady and Katelyn Culbreth had one hit and one RBI each.
“We didn’t strike out as much as we have been doing,” Lumberton coach Mackie Register said. “I was real pleased with our approach tonight. I feel like our bats are starting to come around.”
Lumberton hosts Seventy-First on Tuesday.
In baseball action, Lumberton lost 8-0 to Jack Britt after posting seven errors and tallying three hits.
Parks Ledwell struck out seven in his five innings on the mound. Dylan Bruce, Jordan Smith and Camden Locklear each had a hit.
St. Pauls softball holds off East Bladen
ELIZABETHTOWN — East Bladen scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh, but fell one run short to St. Pauls at home on Friday night as Lady Bulldogs won 11-10 in Three Rivers Conference softball action.
Kenija McGougan and Braxtin Kinlaw each had a pair of hits to lead the Lady Bulldogs. Alicia Monroe had a double and two RBIs.
Jordan Ivey was the winning pitcher for St. Pauls.
In baseball action, St. Pauls lost 4-2 to East Bladen.
Purnell drops second game to Lady Scots
LAURINBURG — The Purnell Swett softball team lost 5-4 at home on Friday to Scotland in Sandhills Athletic Conference action.
MariJo Wilkes had two hits and two RBIs, while Chandra Locklear added two doubles and one RBI. JaiLeana Deese took the loss in the circle.
Purnell Swett lost 11-10 in baseball to Scotland. Jalyn McIntyre hit two homers and drove in six runs for the Rams in the loss.
The Lady Rams host Lee County on Saturday.
Lady Rams take down Whiteville
WHITEVILLE — The Purnell Swett girls soccer team topped Whiteville 3-1 on the road on Friday night.
Maddison Oxendine scored a pair of goals and Abi Lowry added the third for the Lady Rams (4-2, 1-2 SAC).
Purnell Swett hosts Seventy-First on Tuesday.
In other Sandhills soccer action, Pinecrest defeated Lumberton 9-0 on Friday.
