Loyd Star Hornets sweep Enterprise Jackets
Published 7:42 pm Saturday, April 1, 2017
Lincoln County rivals Loyd Star and Enterprise met Tuesday night with the Hornets coming out on top 13-1.
The two games played Friday were much closer this time as the teams battled back and forth with Loyd Star coming out on top in both games, each ending with a 9-6 Hornet’s victory.
The sweep keeps Loyd Star undefeated on the season at 16-0 and a perfect 9-0 in district play. Enterprise drops to 11-6 overall and 6-3 in district play after the sweep.
“This series always is huge to both schools and usually has a big impact on the district alignment,” Enterprise head coach Cass Brister said. “I hate that we lost, but we lost to a good team and we played with a lot of effort and intensity and that’s what I ask our kids to do is play hard and they did that.”
“The boys showed a lot of character falling behind in that environment and being able to scrap out the wins,” Loyd Star head coach Jared Britt said. “I am proud of the guys for sticking to the game plan and pulling out the wins. It’s always good to beat a quality team like Enterprise and a rival.”
Game one: Loyd Star 9, Enterprise 6
Game one of the doubleheader was a roller coaster ride for both teams that featured many lead changes and clutch at-bats.
Loyd Star took a 2-0 lead after the second inning, but Enterprise got on the board in the bottom of the third with an RBI double from Hunter Richardson to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Enterprise jumped out to take the lead in the bottom of the fourth. With the game tied at two after an RBI single from Cade Feltus, Richardson came up big again with a two-run RBI single to give the Jackets the 4-2 lead.
Loyd Star quickly tied the game in the top of the fifth with a bases loaded RBI single from Cole Smith followed by a sacrifice fly by Dawson Zumbro to tie the game at 4-4.
Feltus came up clutch in the bottom of the fifth for Enterprise with another RBI single to give the Jackets the 5-4 lead.
The game was all Loyd Star from there as they scored four runs in the sixth and one in the seventh to pull away and took game one 9-6.
Tanner Watts came into the game for starting pitcher Parker Flowers in the fourth inning and picked up the win for the Hornets. Cade Hodges got the save for Loyd Star.
Richardson led Enterprise in game one going 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs. Feltus came up big going 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs.
Game two: Loyd Star 9, Enterprise 6
Loyd Star took command of game two early and fought off a late comeback attempt from Enterprise to complete the sweep and get the 9-6 win.
An RBI double by Tucker Watts in the top of the first gave Loyd Star the 1-0 lead. Enterprise responded with three runs in the bottom of the first to give them the 3-1 lead. Cade Cangemi hit a two-run RBI double then Feltus hit a RBI single to give Enterprise the lead.
It was all Loyd Star from there as the Hornets scored eight runs over the next four innings to take a 9-3 lead at the end of the fifth inning. Enterprise scored one run in the bottom of the sixth and two runs in the bottom of the seventh to cut the deficit, but it wasn’t enough.
Parker Flowers led Loyd Star at the plate with three RBIs. Konner Allen took the win for the Hornets on the mound, pitching the complete seven innings.
Colby Beard, Feltus, Reese Brocato, Landon Gartman and Cangemi each had an RBI on the night.