Raiders conquer the Bulldogs in a low-scoring affair
Published 4:07 pm Thursday, June 25, 2020
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Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Bulldog's Josh Whitson almost makes an amazing catch after leaping for a well-hit Raider ball that made its way into center field.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
After initially chasing the runner, Bulldog's catcher Morgan Lyons makes the play at first on a hit that barely made it into the infield.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Josh Whitson gets a piece of one for the Bulldog's Wednesday evening at Northeast Community Credit Union Ballpark.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Bulldog's shortstop Josh Whitson tries to tag Raider's Tyler Depriest after an attempted steal.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Bulldog's center fielder Michael Harrison grabs a single by the Raiders to keep the runner at first.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Johnathan Greenwell makes a nice play on a grounder down the third base line and gets the out at first for the Bulldogs.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Caleb Royston is safe at first after a well-hit single for the Bulldogs.
BY NIC MILLER
STAR CORRESPONDENT
ELIZABETHTON – After a week filled with downpours and dark skies, local teams in the Northeast Tennessee High School Baseball League were able to get back into the swing of things this week at Northeast Community Credit Union Ballpark.
Wednesday night, the Bulldogs (Hampton) were still in search of their first league win as they matched up against the Raiders from Sullivan County.
Things were not off to a good start for the Bulldogs after a two-out rally in the top of the first brought home two runners in the form of Jett Wallen and Chandler Raleigh to give the Raiders a 2-0 lead early.
After a break in the action, things continued to go wrong for the Bulldogs in the third when the Raiders’ Brody Cloud smacked a ball to right-center to bring a runner home from first increasing the Raiders lead to 3-0 in the middle of the third.
In the bottom of the inning, things looked promising for the Bulldogs after Caleb Royston and Morgan Lyons recorded base hits but both were left stranded to end the frame.
It was the fifth inning when the ball began to be put back into play by both teams as Jonah Leslie reached base for the Raiders. However, nothing came out of it as the score after five was still 3-0 in favor of the Raiders.
Austin Miller came into the game as a pinch hitter in the sixth and after a wild pitch from the Raiders came across to give the Bulldogs their first run of the ball game. After six, the Bulldogs had begun to come back, 3-1.
In the final inning of play, the Raiders threatened to extend the lead but came up just short as Wallen was left stranded on third giving the Bulldogs three more outs to make magic happen.
In the final half-inning, the Bulldogs came up looking to start a rally and win their first game in the summer league.
However, a solid performance by the man on the mound for the Raiders, Seth Davis, erased any chance of a comeback. It was the Raiders who would take the victory by a score of 3-1 over the Bulldogs of Carter County.
The Bulldogs will be back in action next Tuesday at Northeast Community Credit Union Ballpark against the Volunteers at 5 pm as they still search for their first win in the Northeast Tennessee High School Baseball League.
