‘Canes Run over Baldwin Braves

Pay back time, that’s what the ‘Canes had on their mind Tuesday.

And they accomplished what they proposed by pounding the AAAA Baldwin County Braves 17-2 to invoke the 15 run lead rule after three innings, an exact reversal of last year’s results.

New Head Coach Chris Jenkins evidently knew what he was talking about last week when he said the team was hitting the ball sharper in practice than at any time last year.

Although they were flat in the first inning and down by 1 run, in the second, J.R. Beasley and Kyle Byrd led off with singles followed with a base-clearing triple by Darius Clemmons.

The ‘Canes went on to score 7 runs in the bottom of the second inning. Caleb Reynolds singled to score J.C. Dunagan, who had walked. Then Matt Hyde flirted with a home run when he hit a double to the fence and scored Mark Pierce and Reynolds. Beasley hit his second single of the inning to score Hyde before the inning ended with the ‘Canes leading 7-2.

They broke the game open in the bottom of the third by scoring 10 more runs. Byrd lead off with a double, Clemmons walked, Dun-agan singled, Pierce walked, and Reynolds singled to the gap in right and drove in 2 runs.

Then Hyde hit a towering home run over the center field fence which scored 2 more runs. The ‘Canes scored 6 more runs with still just 1 out.

Clemmons came home on a pass ball to score the 17th run and end the game.

Defense, an area Coach Jenkins was concerned about, never proved to be a problem with the ‘Canes only committing two errors.
Senior, Brian Anderson, acquitted himself quite well on the mound. In the first inning he gave up 2 hits, a walk, a run, and then proceeded to strike out the side.

Another unearned run was scored in the second inning. In the third, he gave up 2 hits, struck out 2, and got help from Pierce when he snagged a line drive in left field.

The ‘Canes were to play Lamar County Wednesday at home.