Great Crossing’s typical way of doing its baseball business should fit nicely with a fresh-faced lineup.
The Warhawks rely on havoc as much as heft, transforming walks into doubles and triples, and wild pitches, passed balls or other miscues from the opponent into runs.
Those tendencies were on full display in a weekend sweep to start the season, 7-3 on Friday night over Wolfe County, and an 8-1 breeze past Bryan Station on Saturday afternoon.
“I know we had some jitters at the beginning with new guys in there,” GC coach Greg Stratton said. “They finally got something going. That’s what we’ve got to do. Scratch off a run here and there and make things happen.”
That’s not to say the Warhawks don’t dig the long ball and can’t collect their runs in bountiful bunches.
Levi Hamon’s grand slam in the bottom of the fifth inning broke a 3-3 deadlock in the opener against the reigning 14th Region champion Wolves. GC loaded the bases on a single, a walk and a hit batsman.
“He’s seeing the ball well,” Stratton said of the sophomore Hamon. “He’s gotten bigger and stronger. He’s going to be a big factor for sure.”
Hamon got the Warhawks started in more typical talons-up fashion in the second inning. He walked, stole second and eventually scored on a passed ball to tie it at 1.
GC took the lead an inning later when Brayden Beckett was plunked by a pitch, stole second and scored on the Warhawks’ initial hit of the game by Hayden Kirby.
“That’s our slogan, our motto. You’ve just got to make those things happen,” Stratton said. “We’ve got to do a better job of getting bunts down and playing the small ball game. We’ve got to get on base, run the bases, take the dirt ball reads, and then just wreak havoc that way. Put pressure on them.”
Wolfe County tied it in the fourth courtesy of a misjudged fly ball, sacrifice fly and wild pitch.
The Warhawks countered with the Eli Show — hits by King and Adkins (RBI) — to reclaim the lead.
Hamon’s stage was set after a two-out walk and stolen base by Jayden Molands, followed by Kris Evans’ tying hit in the top of the fifth.
“It all starts on the mound,” Stratton said. “You’ve got to throw strikes and play defense.”
Sophomore southpaw Landen Walters and senior reliever Sutton Holbrook kept the Wolves off kilter. Holbrook scattered two hits over the final 4 2/3 innings.
“Sutton bore down there and was throwing strikes and filling the zone up,” Stratton said. “The first inning, Landen had jitters, I think, opening day and all that for a sophomore. He did fine. He came back. He knows what he’s got to do.”
Adkins and Collier Curtis each had two hits and an RBI. They combined for four stolen bases.
Parker Covington was the relief ace Saturday, never allowing a hit after entering the game with two out in the top of the first. He struck out 11 and did not issue a walk.
Beckett led the Warhawks’ attack with two hits, and RBI and a stolen base. Adkins (three stolen bases) and Curtis (two) each had a hit.
Colton Warren completed the hit column. Kirby, Tyler Mullannix and Chase Little each knocked in a run.
“We’ve got all the pieces. We’ve just got to put everything together and play our game,” Stratton said. “We don’t have the big names. We’ve got a bunch of gritty ball players. That’s going to be our season right there.”
Scott County started the season with a busy, productive weekend, including three wins and a furious final-inning rally that fell just short in its only loss.
The Cardinals clawed out a 6-1 win over Franklin County in Thursday’s opener at home.
Will Rose was 3-for-3 with a home run, a double and three RBI. Jacob Skinner and Carson Murray chalked up two hits apiece. Parker Dotson and Garrett Sparks each singled, with Dotson delivering a run. Duncan Stevens knocked in another with a sacrifice fly.
Tyler Wands and Brady Crace combined to allow the Flyers only five hits while striking out a total of seven.
Down 11-2 in the top of the seventh at Grant County on Friday, SC scored eight runs and was a swing away from taking the lead before a strikeout sealed the Braves’ 11-10 victory.
Crace, Rose and Fields each had a hit and combined to knock home five runs in the rally. Dotson and Murray drew bases-loaded walks to further close the gap.
Rose (3-for-5) was the Cardinals’ lone repeat hitter.
Scott County took advantage of the opportunity to shake off that loss with a triangle sweep at Collins on Saturday. The Cards blanked the Titans, 8-0, and beat Bullitt Central, 7-2.
Dotson and Fields combined on the three-hitter against Collins, striking out 11. Rose and Stevens both homered and paired up for six RBI. Murray was a repeat hitter.
Jacob Skinner threw five shutout innings, surrendering only three hits while striking out nine in the nightcap. Crace finished with four strikeouts over the final two frames.
Ian Harrington (two RBI) and Fields both had two hits. Rose, Stevens, Austin Davis and Keagan Hurt all had a single and an RBI.