Lamar capitalizes, upends Copiah

By By Austin Bishop/Special To The Star
March 28, 2001
The rule is a simple one. When somebody makes a mistake you must capitalize on it.
Lamar School's Monroe Mayfield did just that with a capital HR on Tuesday night as he ripped a two-run homer in the fifth inning to break a 3-3 tie and lead the homestanding Raiders to a key Division 3-AAA win over Copiah Academy by the score of 6-3.
Just one pitch earlier Mayfield had hit a foul ball that looked like an easy out, but it bounced out of the catcher's mitt.
It is the fifth time in six days that the Raiders, now 9-2 on the season, have posted a come-from-behind victory. Three of those rallies have come in the last three innings.
Copiah scored two runs in the top of the first thanks to a two-out rally to take the early lead.
Lamar cut that to 2-1 in the third when Drew Moffett walked, stole second, moved to third on one wild pitch, then scored on another.
The visiting Colonels answered with an unearned run in the top of the fourth to go up 3-1 behind the strong pitching of CA starter Thomas Garland.
The Raiders exploded for five runs in the fifth, thanks to two Copiah errors and six consecutive hits by Lamar.
After Bobby Stone led off the inning by reaching on an error, the next hitter popped up. Moffett then dropped down a bunt single and Ryan Satcher lined a single to right to load the bases.
Justin Brewer then ripped a two-strike, two-run single to left to tie the game.
After Satcher was thrown out trying to steal third, Mayfield ripped his homer to left.
McKee followed with a single to center and scored on a double by Jeff Knight to make it 6-3.
Copiah picked up six of its seven hits over the first four innings, but Lamar starter Jamie Fontan got stronger as the game went on, allowing just one hit over the last three innings.
Fontan (4-0) struck out nine and issued just one walk in going the distance.
Brewer led Lamar at the plate with two singles.
Lamar hits the road on Thursday as the Raiders travel to Gallman to take on Copiah in a division doubleheader.
In a new twist this season, the Division 3-AAA members are playing each other in three-game series, to simulate the playoffs.