First-inning runs lead to Hampton loss against North Greene

Published 2:28 am Wednesday, April 6, 2022

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BY BRANDON HYDE
STAR CORRESPONDENT
The Hampton and North Greene matchup was in jeopardy Tuesday with rain in the forecast all day, but the weather held off long enough for the Huskies and Bulldogs to squeeze in their game Tuesday evening.
The weather went the Bulldogs way, but unfortunately, the game did not go as planned as the Bulldogs dropped one to the Huskies 8-3 as the rain picked up towards the end.
Early on in the top of the first inning, Hampton gave up seven runs due to walks, errors, and scattered hits along with a walk on a hit Husky batter.  The Bulldogs would allow five hits and three walks as Caleb Royston was the starting pitcher.  Hampton could not answer in the bottom of the first in their at-bat as Royston singled but did not score.
Jonathan Greenwell came in to relief pitch giving up no runs and a single hit by North Greene.  Hampton finally got on the board in the bottom of the second after the Huskies allowed a hit and a walk during the inning.  Hampton added to their score with two hits and two walks in the bottom of the third.
In the bottom of the fifth, Hampton made a couple of nice defensive plays as shortstop Josh Whitson made a nice infield snag and would make the throw to first for the out followed by a pop fly out recorded by left fielder Brody Hicks.  This would send North Greene packing after an earlier out, with the score 7-3 going into the sixth inning.
Hampton continued to struggle to put runs on the board as Caleb Royston had a chance to advance to third base after an earlier single, but would find himself in a rundown situation that left the Bulldogs with two outs.  McKinley Kuhn ended the inning with a pop fly-out.
North Greene added another run late in the game after Hampton’s Collin Morgan relieved Greenwell on the mound.
With Husky runners at second and third, Dan Stansford for North Greene barely got a piece of the ball allowing the runner at third base to score on the sacrifice.
Things looked bleak for the Bulldogs as the rain started to fall steadily going into the final inning, but Hampton would have their chance as Huskies Tanner Sexton was allowing too many balls and hits.
This would lead to bases loaded for the Bulldogs with two outs, but Kuhn would hit a grounder down the first base line directly to the Husky first baseman to dash any chances the Bulldogs had.
Royston finished with three of the seven hits recorded by Hampton. Chance Point, Greenwell, Kuhn, and Hicks accounted for one hit apiece.
Drexel Grant, Tanner Sexton, and Seth Charlton recorded two hits each for the Huskies.

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