Vikings top Green Wave

Published 12:00 am Monday, March 13, 2000

Vidalia High’s varsity baseball team took advantage of six Cathedral errors and got a solid pitching performance from Jarrett Hoffpauir to defeat the Green Wave 10-3 Sunday in the championship game of the Vidalia Tournament.

Three of Cathedral’s errors came in the bottom of the third inning when Vidalia (9-4) scored six runs to break open a close game.

&uot;We proved we could play well,&uot; said Vidalia High head baseball coach Johnny Lee Hoffpauir. &uot;Jarrett pitched well and he needed the innings.&uot;

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Hoffpauir, the winning pitcher, allowed three runs on four hits, struck out eight and walked two in five innings.

Hoffpauir also had a good game at the plate, going 2-for-2 with an RBI single in the second and a 2-RBI single in the third.

Vidalia scored a run in the first inning when shortstop Adam Probst scored on a Cathedral error, then scored three more runs in the second inning.

Third baseman Kevin Laird scored on a Terrell Williams single, catcher Ryan Boles scored when Hoffpauir singled, and Williams scored when he beat out a throw to home.

Cathedral (5-5) scored two runs in the top of the third inning. Second baseman Ben Eidt scored on a wild pitch and catcher Stephen Edwards scored on a single by first baseman Charlie Norris.

Charlie Norris was 2-for-2 with both hits being singles.

Then came the six-run rally by Vidalia, which got a triple by center fielder Rod Donald and a two-run homer by first baseman Bryan Bennett.

&uot;They swung the bat pretty good today,&uot; said Cathedral head baseball Ken Beesley. &uot;We couldn’t hold them down.&uot;

Cathedral scored another run in the top of the fourth inning when right fielder Scott McLemore scored on an Eidt single, but it was not nearly enough.

&uot;We hit the ball well,&uot; coach Hoffpauir said. &uot;I think we played well against a good Cathedral team.&uot;

Steven Bush suffered the loss for Cathedral, giving up 10 runs on eight hits, striking out three and walking two in 2 2/3 innings.

Chris Norris allowed no runs on one hit and struck out one in 1 1/3 innings.

&uot;I want to thank the people who helped sponsor this and those who volunteered,&uot; coach Hoffpauir. &uot;It makes us feel good to have this kind of support.

&uot;I want to also thank the fans and the teams. It was a successful tournament.&uot;

Cathedral made it to the championship by taking advantage of five Jena errors in an 8-4 win.

This game was a rematch of the Feb. 22 contest won by Cathedral 3-1. Four Green Wave pitchers combined for a no-hitter in that game.

Christopher Martin got the win for Cathedral, allowing four runs on seven hits, striking out three and walking two in five innings.

Leading 1-0 after one inning, Cathedral exploded for six runs in the top of the second. Right fielder Casey Rodgers had an RBI double and an RBI single in the inning.

Trailing 8-0, Jena scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth and had two runners on when first baseman Ron Walters grounded out to first to end the game.

&uot;We relaxed too much and Chris got tired in the fifth,&uot; coach Beesley said. &uot;We we’re able to take advantage of their errors.&uot;

Pat Willis took the loss for Jena, giving up seven runs on seven hits in 1 2/3 innings. Ashley Dayne allowed one run on two hits, struck out five and walked two in 3 1/3 innings.

Cathedral plays at West Lincoln beginning with the junior varsity at 4 p.m. followed by the varsity game at 6 p.m.