Error prone Bulldogs fall to FCA Flames
Published 7:58 am Thursday, March 14, 2024
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Chance Point (2) of Hampton scores the Bulldogs' first run of the game in the top of the first as CFA Flames' Colby Kell (32) awaits the late throw at the plate.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders After driving in the first run of the game with a single in the top of the first, Bulldog starting pitcher Noah Nichols (40) slides into second base for a stolen base on the very next pitch. CFA’s Owen Warhurst (99) is late with the tag on the play.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Bulldog Jayden Kuhn (20) follows through on an RBI single, giving Hampton a 2-0 lead after one inning.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Bulldog second baseman Chase Davenport (33) snags a grounder deep in the hole and fires to first base for the final out of the bottom of the first inning.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Bulldog starting pitcher Noah Nichols (40) fires a strike in the bottom of the second inning.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders FCA Flames shortstop Vaughn De La Cruz (27) waits on the ball and applies a late tag to Hampton’s Chase Davenport (33), who slides in safely with a stolen base in the top of the second inning.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Bulldogs shortstop Jayden Kuhn (20) applies the tag for the out to the Flames' Conner McCroskey (23) for the second out of the bottom of the second inning. Hampton’s second baseman Chase Davenport (33) backs up the play.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Bulldog Jayden Kuhn (20) is hit by a pitch in the top of the third inning.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders Bulldog center fielder Gabriel Lyons (24) secures the final out of the third inning.
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STAR CORRESPONDENT
PINEY FLATS – On Tuesday the Hampton Bulldogs made their 2024 debut at Mary Hughes Baseball Field in a non conference match with the FCA Flames. The Bulldogs allowed just one hit, but made a dozen fielding and throwing miscues to fall 11-2.
“We must improve,” Bulldogs head coach Nicholas Perkins said. “We have some young players, and some inexperienced players and we have developed a standard here that is high. To start a season like this is unacceptable. The Flames are a class team and organization and I wish them nothing but the best.”
Noah Nichols took the mound for Hampton (0-1) being blessed with a two run lead and he pitched well over three innings of work. The ‘Dogs opened the top of the first with Chance Point reaching on an infield error, stole second and came around on a single from Nichols.
Nichols scored on a single from Jaden Kuhn but Flames lefty starter Owen Warhurst put out the fire by retiring Elisha Henson on a fly ball and struck out Bryce Fagan and Geno Carrico. Nichols struck out four and walked three in his first three innings of work before the wheels came off the wagon in the fourth frame.
The ‘Dogs threatened in the second inning getting runners on first and third but couldn’t push the run across and also had runners on the corners in the third but failed in each case to get the big hit that would score the runners.
In the last of the fourth Nichols was done in by walks, three errors and several poor throws as the Flames got just one hit – that a bunt that ‘Dogs catcher Chance Point held on to because of the runner on third who was waiting for him to throw so he could race in with the lead run.
With the bases now loaded, two runs scored on errors and errant throws as FCA took a 4-2 lead. They would plate three more runs as Hampton had two more throwing errors. Gabe Lyons came on in relief and he pitched a scoreless fifth before running into trouble in the sixth.
Chase Davenport came on after Lyons walked the leadoff hitter and plunked the next batter and he loaded the bases by hitting the first batter he faced. Wild pitches scored the next two runs and a ground ball out plated the last Flames base runner.
FCA Flames 11-2
Hampton 200 000 0 – 2 7 5
FCA 000 704 x – 11 1 2
W – Warhurst L – Nichols
