‘Dogs earn a mercy-rule win over Avery County
Published 7:54 pm Tuesday, May 4, 2021
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Hampton’s Morgan Lyons (24) dives into home plate around the Vikings catcher E. Church (14) scoring on Conor Jones single back through the box in the bottom of the second inning.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The Bulldogs starting and winning pitcher Caleb Royston (2) fires a pitch in the top of the first inning.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Hampton’s Morgan Lyons (24) ducks a pitch that sails over his head and to the backstop in the bottom of the first.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The Bulldogs Chance Point (12) who stole second, then went to third on a passed ball, scores on a second consecutive pass ball of the inning as Avery County’s pitcher N. Banks (14) who continued to be wild throughout the bottom of the first.
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BY ALLEN LAMOUNTAIN
STAR CORRESPONDENT
A nine-run second inning propelled Hampton to a 10-0 mercy-rule win over Avery County (N.C.) on Monday evening at Scotty Bunton Field. Senior day saw the Bulldogs get a big nonconference victory and closed out the season 14-10 overall having won 12 of their last 17 games.
Junior pitcher Caleb Royston was sharp striking out six and walking one while giving up just two hits. Last among Royston’s strikeout victims was Troy Smith and was the 100th of his career.
“I started a little slow but as I started to get a little better grip on the wet ball on the mound after the rain I get a better feel for it,” Royston said. “I found my release point and it started to break a little better.”
Hampton got a run in the first inning with Chase Point leading off with an infield single. Point stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. He then scored with Conor Jones at the dish when Avery starter Nick Banks uncorked a second wild pitch to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.
The ‘Dogs sent 13 batters to the plate with Point drawing a bases-loaded walk to plate a run and junior catcher Morgan Lyons delivered a two-run single for a 4-0 Hampton lead.
An infield error brought home two runs including Lyons who beat a relay throw from first base and slid headfirst across the dish for a 6-0 ‘Dogs lead.
The hit parade continued with Parker Henry dropping down a perfect bunt down the third base line and Royston followed with an RBI single. A pair of runs came in on the second infield error of the inning and Hampton took a 10-0 lead,
“When we play well, we can play with anyone on our schedule,” Bulldogs head coach Nicholas Perkins said. “Caleb has had a nice junior year and when he has command of his curveball it sets up all his other pitches.
“It’s always fun to win at home. Early in the game, Lyons got the momentum in our favor with two caught stealing throws.”
Avery got hits from Nick Banks who started on the mound and James Harris who singled in the fourth.
Hampton will play Unaka in the play-in game of the District 1A tournament on Friday and with a win will take on North Greene.
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Hampton 10-0
Avery Co. 000 00 – 0 2 2
Hampton 190 0x – 10 7 0
W – Royston. L – Banks.
