Knights hold off Tigers for victory

By By Jamie Sullivan / staff writer
April 12, 2002
The 20-6 West Lauderdale Knights held off the 12-10 visiting Tigers of Southeast Lauderdale Thursday night in a disputed Division 5-3A race at Knight Field. The Knights took the decision 9-6.
With a division game and a cross-county rivalry, you can always expect wild things to happen. In the case with this game, but teams were out for blood. Southeast Lauderdale allowed four batters a free pass pass to first base, as they were hit-by-pitches, but the homestanding Knights topped that. West Lauderdale allowed Southeast six base runners for the same purpose, with four of them crossing the plate.
Southeast head coach Reggie Richardson was a bit upset with the loss, but he knows his club still stands a chance to make a post-season appearance.
The Knights exploited for four runs in the first inning on two Southeast errors. Ike Munn reached base, after being hit-by-pitch, and later scored on a two-run shot by Van Wilson. Richie McAllister was the second victim that was hit-by-pitch, allowing C.J. Fountain a plate appearance. Fountain and McAllister later scored on a Randy Diveley double to right field. In the third inning, Fountain was hit-by-pitch, and he later scored on a single by Diveley to make the score 5-0.
The Tigers got on the score board in the fourth inning, when Jay Butler was hit-by-pitch, and later scored on a wild pitch by the Knights.
However, the runs did not bother the Knights, as they scored two runs in the fourth inning on a double by Munn.
Southeast Lauderdale showed somewhat of a comeback in the fifth inning, when three batters reached base after being hit-by-pitches. Michael Anderson,Larry Fairchild, and Tyler McMullen scored runs to aid the Tigers to a 7-5 fifth inning deficit.
Cody Powell entered the game as a pinch-runner for McAllister, and later scored on a balk by the Southeast pitcher, to make the score 8-5.
James Pierce reached base on an error by the Knights in the sixth inning, and later crossed the plate on a sacrifice by Clay McRee. The Tigers trailed 8-6.
Trent Posey left the park in the bottom of the sixth inning for the Knights to help close the Tigers out 9-5.
In the seventh and final inning, the Tigers loaded the bases, but they only managed one run. Fairchild crossed the plate to make the final score 9-6.
Posey took the win for the Knights, as he pitched five-and-a-third innings, fanning 10 batters, no walks, and allowing two hits. Posey now moves to 8-2 while being on the hill for the Knights. Phillip Butler pitched four innings, allowing six hits, seven runs, and two strike outs in the loss. Butler now stands at 5-4 on the year.
Both teams will be in action today, when Southeast travels to Philadelphia and the Knights will entertain Carthage.
The Knights were led in hitting by Diveley as he was 2-for-3 with a single and a double with three RBIs. Wilson and Posey also added homers.
West Lauderdale is now 9-0 in the division, locking-up the Division 5-3A title, and a trip to the playoffs.