JV Hurricanes Defeat GMC Bulldogs

In junior varsity (JV) baseball action, the Canes took on GMC last week earning the win.

The Canes struck quickly with Cope Durand leading off with a triple to open the game. He would be left stranded at third however, as three of the next four batters went down on strikes, with a Jaxson Cohran walk stationed in-between.

In the top of the third, after a leadoff strikeout, the hot hitting Durand came up again and this time laced a screaming liner over the head of the centerfielder, who was playing up. Durand’s speed, coupled with a slow relay from the outfield, allowed him to come around and score on an inside-the-park home run. This put the JV ‘Canes up 1-0, and shortly thereafter would add to the lead with a single to third by Gavin Bennett, followed by a stolen base to put him in scoring position.

Pitcher Justin Crowder came up with a chance to help himself, and help himself he did, with an runs batted in (RBI) single to left scoring Bennett from second, and putting the Canes up 2-0. The young Canes added another in the top of the fourth, with Zachary Ramsey adding a single towards second, then stealing second, and moving to third on a groundout by Jordyn Campbell.

With one strike on Austin Young with two outs, the Canes ran a squeeze play, with Young laying down the perfect bunt down the third base line to score Ramsey and allow the JV Canes to increase the lead to 3-0.

Shaky defensive play led to the Bulldogs pulling within one, with back to back errors allowing GMC to pick up two runs on new pitcher Preston Russell.

In the top of the fifth, the Hurricanes were able to add some breathing room. Crowder cracked a single to center, and after stealing second. Cohran was able to drive him in with a triple that was just missed by the GMC defender in left.

The next batter, Cody Wilkerson, found himself on first courtesy of a wild pitch on a third strike call, with Cohran coming home to score on the play, and putting the final score at 5-2 in a game that was stopped early because of time limitations.

Crowder picked up the win for the young Canes, giving up only 1 hit in his 3 innings of work, while striking out 4. Preston Russell was credited with the save in his 1 inning of work, adding two more strikeouts.

The Junior Varsity Canes were to play Wednesday at Jackson High School.