Clarkdale downs Morton, remains unbeaten

By Staff
From staff reports
March 2, 2001
The Clarkdale Bulldogs rolled their record to 6-0 with a come-from-behind, 10-7 win over the Morton Panthers just before the rains hit Thursday evening.
Chris Moffett (3-0) remained undefeated, coming on in the third inning in relief and hurling a one hitter that included eight strikeouts.
Moffett also helped his cause by going 2-for-3 with a double and a home run.
Other big hitters for the Bulldogs were Matt Minchew, who went 2-for-3 and Jeffrey Stokes, who had a 2-for-4 night that included a double. Thomas Walters and Mark Taylor also had doubles.
Morton's bats were hot to start the contest, as the host Bulldogs found themselves down 7-4 after three innings. But Clarkdale stormed back with three-spots in the fifth and sixth innings.
The Bulldogs, who improved to 3-0 in Division 7-2A play, pounded out their 10 runs on 10 hits while committing only one error. The Bulldogs chased Panther starter Lee Fairchilds. Fairchilds was the losing pitcher as he was touched for all 10 hits. He also walked five. The Panthers hurt their chances by committing three errors.
Morton, which suffered its first loss of the season, also fell to 1-1 in division play. Michael Pilgrim and Fairchilds led the Panthers in hitting with 2-for-3 efforts.
Clarkdale is slated to travel to Newton tonight for games at 5 and 7 p.m.
Central Academy 6, Heritage Academy 5: Chris Rushing's infield single plated Tyler Huerkamp with the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning, and Central Academy won its season-opener with a 6-5 win over visiting Heritage Academy.
The Vikings (1-0) were originally slated to go to Heritage, but the game was moved to Macon's Bobby Presley Field after the HA field was damaged in the recent storms.
Heritage used single runs in the second and third innings to take a 2-1 lead. The teams swapped the lead when Central scored twice in the fifth and the Patriots answered back with two in the top of the sixth.
Central trailed 5-3 going into the bottom of the seventh, but rallied to tie it and then got the game-winning hit from Rushing with the bases loaded and one out.
Drew Powell and Justin Marro each had two hits to lead Central, while Tony Sudduth knocked in three runs.
Huerkamp started on the hill and allowed four hits and two walks before giving way to Von Gomel who pitched the seventh and got the win.
Central hosts Winston Academy Monday for its next action.