Wild Win at Backer Park!
Posted March 22, 2022
![Click for larger Wild Win at Backer Park!](/teams/files/H/HamptonHighSchool/photos/news_6239eab6d55e6.jpg)
Normally when you collect 10 hits and 6 stolen bases on offense, you feel real good about your team's chances, but when you add 7 errors to those numbers, things get a little more dicey. After not playing baseball for a week, the visiting Bulldogs may have been a little out of sorts, especally with it being our first road game of the 2022 campaign. The 5 runs we scored in a 5-3 victory at the Holston Cavaliers could have been a bigger number if not for two runs being erased on a base running technicality, and if an Andon Winters line-drive shot with the bases loaded, would have went a few inches to the left or right. Caleb Royston (2 innings) and Josh Whitson (5 innings) made those runs hold up, as the duo combined for 7 strikeouts and only 1 earned run.
Notes:
*McKinley Kuhn had an RBI base knock, and an exciting, crowd pleasing stolen base, but his biggest contribution to the victory may have been some stellar defensive plays at first base in the 7th inning.
*Sophomore, Chance Point showed what a threat he is on the bases, as the sophomore has started defending his 2021 Northeast, Tennessee stolen base crown. Point had 2 stolen bags on the night, and scored an exciting run when he raced for home on a backpick throw from the catcher to the third baseman that was intended to get Point out at 3B.
*Colling Morgan has started out 2022 in a big way, as he is inches from having 2 home runs on the season. Just as impressive, the big lefty has displayed really good defense in right field. We are happy for the start Collin has gotten off to.
*Caleb Royston hit a missle of a base hit on Monday night! It would have been a double in almost any scenario, but Holston's centerfielder was as good as advertised, as he made a tremendous play and throw to get the ball back into the infield quickly.
*Johnathan Greenwell continues to make a smooth transition back to the baseball diamond, as the junior had a bunt for a base hit and a screaming liner in the gap for a double. He will make his first career start on the mound, today, March 22 vs. the Northwood Panthers.
*Speaking of smooth transitions back to the baseball diamond, Kyler Lewis has also been a nice addition to our 2022 ball club. On Monday at Holston the senior CF had a base knock, swiped a bag, and scored a run.
*Simply stated, Andon Winters is much improved! The big, agile, coordianted senior had two good at-bats and caught a ball in left field. He is a presence on our team.
*Brody Hicks is back and looking to have a big bounce back year. We are excited about his contributions. He contributed for the JV Bulldogs by hitting a grand slam home run over the right field wall at Holston!
*Morgan Lyons will make his 2022 season debut today behind the dish vs. the Northwood Panthers.
*Josh Whitson had a better offensive game on Monday, but he was really good out of the Bulldog bullpen, showing a higher velocity on his fastball than in 2021.
*Seth Hughes was our starting catcher during the scrimmage season, but he contributed on Monday coming off the bench to score a big pinch run on Jonathan Greenwell's double.
*We like our ball club. We must continue to improve. We understand nothing will be given to us, but we like our pieces.
Hope to see you all at Scotty Bunton Field on Tuesday night.