Lawrence County, 8-5, lost Wednesday’s game in five innings, 12-2.

The Cougars’ bats just didn’t want to warm up. Lawrence County tallied three hits compared to Sumrall’s 12. The Sumrall Bobcats jumped out early in the game and never looked back. A huge fifth inning, where the Cats scored eight runs, put the game out of reach for Lawrence County.

“It wasn’t a pretty game,” said Lawrence County coach Andrew Haygood. “We’ll be ready to go at it tomorrow.”

Sumrall scored two runs in the top half of the second. Tanner Morgan brought one run in on an RBI single. The Cats scored two more runs on Cougars’ errors and added one run in their half of the third inning, off of a RBI single by Mason Story.

Down 4-0 heading into the bottom half of the third, Lawrence County finally broke onto the scoreboard. Gage Daley got the Cougars started with an RBI single. Marquez Hudson followed with an RBI single of his own.

Lawrence County threatened to take over the game, loading the bases with two outs, but Sumrall got the needed out to stay in front.

The score remained 4-2, Sumrall’s favor, until the top half of the fifth, when the Cats exploded for eight runs.

Sumrall’s Garrett Robbins started the hurt with an RBI single. Morgan followed with an RBI double. Zane Berry brought in two runs on a hard-hit single.

Story also brought in two runs on a single. Hunter Barrett finished the hurt for the Cats on a RBI single, before the Cougars got the final out.

Needing one run to force a sixth inning, Lawrence County was unable to get on base as Sumrall’s defense prevented any Cougars from reaching first base. Sumrall won 12-2 in five innings.

Brandon Bullock started on the mound for Lawrence. Both John Clyde Ready and Daley pitched in the relief in the fourth inning. Peyton Little also pitched in relief in the fifth inning.

Halen Sanford pitched for Sumrall. Grant Ready pitched in relief in the fifth inning.

Hudson had two singles and an RBI for Lawrence County. Daley finished the hitting for the Cougars with a single and an RBI.

Kros Sively had a double, a single and an RBI for Sumrall. Morgan had single, double and two RBIs. Billy Garrity had a double. Story had a single, double and three RBIs. Berry had a single and two RBIs. Barrett finished the hitting for the Cats with a single and an RBI.

Lawrence County faced off against Sumrall for the final game of the series Thursday night after the newspaper went to press.

Story by Dave Linton